Short summary: UIDAI has issued a new Circular (F.No. HQ-16024/4/2020-EU-I-HQ) dated September 2026 on the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for updating name in Aadhaar. This blog explains the full SOP in simple points — which name changes are allowed, which documents are needed, and when the request will be rejected. This topic is also useful for India Post Departmental Exam aspirants preparing for GDS to MTS, GDS to Postman, MTS to PA, and Postman to PA exams, because Aadhaar work is done daily at post offices.
1. What is this new Circular?
- Issued by UIDAI (Unique Identification Authority of India), Enrolment & Update-I Division, Head Office, New Delhi.
- File Number: HQ-16024/4/2020-EU-I-HQ
- Signed by Nikhil Sinha, Director, digitally signed on 18-09-2026.
- It supersedes the old Name & Gender Update SOP issued on 28.10.2021.
- The new SOP is effective from the date of signature of the circular.
- Sent to all Registrars / Enrolment Agencies and UIDAI Regional Offices.
Why it matters for India Post: Post offices are Aadhaar enrolment and update centres. Postal Assistants, Sorting Assistants, Postmen, MTS and GDS handle these requests at the counter. Questions from such circulars often appear in India Post Departmental Exam papers and current affairs sections.
2. Basic Rules for Name in Aadhaar
- Name is recorded as per documents given in Schedule II of the Aadhaar (Enrolment and Update) Regulations, 2016.
- Name update is governed by Regulation 19 of the same Regulations.
- Name shall be recorded in block letters.
- Not allowed in name:
- alias or urf
- prefixes (Shri, Smt, Ms, Dr, Prof)
- military ranks
- designations and service names
- awards and decorations
- dots and other special characters
- The name will be updated exactly as per the spelling, sequence and abbreviation written in the submitted document.
3. Categories of Name Update (Annexure A) – Simple Table
A. Minor Name Change → Document: PoI (or applicable PoR for children below 18)
| Scenario | Example |
|---|---|
| Expanding abbreviation or making initials | T R D Prasad → Tadi Rama Durga Prasad; Ram Mohan Naidu → R M Naidu |
| Addition of middle/last name | Himanshu Gupta → Himanshu Chandra Gupta |
| Deletion of middle/last name | Lakshmi Jyoti Swaroopini → Jyoti Swaroopini |
| Change in sequence order | Divakar Anand → Anand Divakar |
| Minor English spelling correction (sound same) | Pooja Singh → Puja Singh; Abhishek → Abhisek |
| Any combination of the above | — |
B. Data Entry Error → Document: Affidavit + PoI/PoR
- For adults: Affidavit as per Annexure B + PoI / PoR
- For minors: Affidavit as per Annexure C + PoI / PoR
- Accepted if: the new name matches the PoI/PoR document already submitted to UIDAI earlier.
- Rejected if: the new name does not match the previously submitted PoI/PoR available with UIDAI.
C. Error in Regional Language → Document: PoI
- Example: English name is correct, but Hindi/regional spelling is wrong — Nirmal Sinha (निर्मला सिन्हा) → Nirmal Sinha (निर्मल सिन्हा).
D. Special Cases
| Scenario | Document Required |
|---|---|
| Surname change after marriage or divorce | Affidavit (Annexure D) + PoI |
| Name change due to change of gender | Applicable PoI |
| Child below 18 – changing “Baby of ___” to a proper name (HoF based) | Applicable PoR |
| Dropping ranks/designations/prefixes (Lt Gen, Maj, Hav, Justice, Prof, Dr, Shri, Smt, Ms) | PoI |
| Correction of random capital letters (RaMesh → Ramesh, ViVEK → Vivek) | No document required |
| Removal of dots (R.V.N Srinivas → RVN Srinivas) | No document required |
| Removal of “urf” / “alias” | Adults: Affidavit (Annexure E) + PoI; Minors: Affidavit (Annexure F) + PoI/PoR |
E. Major Name Change → Gazette Notification Compulsory
- Complete change of name or identity, for example: Ram Gupta → Shyam Gupta, Amisha Patel → Ameesha Kumar Singh.
- Document: PoI, and only a Gazette Notification is accepted for name change.
- If Gazette Notification is not attached, the request is liable to be rejected.
4. Affidavit Formats (Annexure B to F) – Key Points
- Affidavit must be printed on Non-Judicial Stamp Paper of minimum ₹10.
- It must be signed and attested before a Judicial Magistrate, Executive Magistrate or Notary Public.
- The applicant declares:
- his/her Aadhaar number and correct name,
- that the update is only a correction and not a change of identity,
- that the supporting document is genuine,
- that if any document is found false, forged or fabricated, the person will be fully responsible, and the Aadhaar number can be deactivated along with prosecution under law.
Annexure list in short:
- Annexure B – Data entry error (adults)
- Annexure C – Data entry error (minors)
- Annexure D – Surname change after marriage/divorce
- Annexure E – Removal of urf/alias (adults)
- Annexure F – Removal of urf/alias (minors)
5. Important Points to Remember (Quick Revision)
- New SOP replaces the 2021 Exception Handling SOP.
- Name is matched with all previous names of the Aadhaar holder.
- Minor change = easy; Major change = Gazette only.
- Capital letter correction and dot removal = no document.
- Genuineness of PoI, PoR, Affidavit and Gazette will be verified before processing.
6. Why India Post Employees Must Read This
Aadhaar update work is part of daily counter duty in post offices. Knowing this SOP helps in:
- Correct guidance to customers at the Aadhaar counter.
- Fewer rejected update requests.
- Better preparation for India Post Departmental Exam general awareness and office procedure sections.
Employees preparing for GDS to MTS Departmental Exam, GDS to Postman / Mail Guard, MTS to PA/SA and Postman to PA/SA should keep such circulars in their notes, because departmental papers regularly ask about rules, circulars and office procedures.
7. Free Study Support for India Post Departmental Exams
If you are preparing for a promotion exam, keep these ready:
- GDS to MTS Syllabus and GDS to MTS Exam Pattern
- GDS to MTS Previous Year Question Papers PDF
- GDS to MTS Mock Test and GDS to MTS Practice Set
- MTS to PA Previous Year Question Papers and MTS to PA Syllabus
- Postman to PA Question Paper and Postman to PA Study Material
- India Post Circulars, India Post Latest News, India Post GK and India Post Current Affairs
Circle wise preparation is also available for GDS to MTS Delhi Circle, Punjab Circle, Haryana Circle, Rajasthan Circle, Uttar Pradesh Circle, Bihar Circle, Madhya Pradesh Circle, Maharashtra Circle, Gujarat Circle, Tamil Nadu Circle, Karnataka Circle, Kerala Circle, Odisha Circle, Assam Circle and West Bengal Circle.
8. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1. Can I change my full name in Aadhaar?
Yes, but a complete change of name or identity is treated as a Major Name Change and needs a Gazette Notification.
Q2. Do I need an affidavit for a small spelling mistake?
If it is a minor phonetic spelling change, only PoI is needed. If it is a data entry error case, an affidavit (Annexure B or C) with PoI/PoR is required.
Q3. Is any document needed to remove dots from my name?
No document is required for removal of dots or correction of random capital letters.
Q4. What is the stamp paper value for the affidavit?
Minimum ₹10 Non-Judicial Stamp Paper, attested by a Magistrate or Notary Public.
Q5. Is this topic important for departmental exams?
Yes. Circulars and office procedures are commonly asked in India Post Promotion Exam papers.