About The Gazette

The Gazette is formally the combination of three publications: The London Gazette, The Belfast Gazette and The Edinburgh Gazette. The Gazettes are official journals of record.

As a publication, The Gazette consists largely of statutory notices. This means that there is some legal requirement for the notice placer to advertise an event or proposal in The Gazette.

There are over 450 different types of notice that are advertised in The Gazette, including:

242 notice types required by law to be published in The Gazette
82 notice types required by law to be published in The Gazette, as well as somewhere else (for example, a newspaper)
54 notice types required by law to be published, but the law doesn’t specify where
36 notice types that may be published in The Gazette
41 notice types that are optional publication, so are not required by law to be published

The Gazette website provides information on these different types of notice and the legislation that governs their publication here.

The legal power to print and publish The Gazette is a prerogative power conferred on the King’s Printer by letters patent. Letters patent are a type of legal instrument in the form of a published written order, in this case issued by the monarch. The King’s Printer and the Controller of HMSO have historically been viewed as one and the same person, and it can be inferred that the functions of the King’s Printer are to be carried out by HMSO operating from within The National Archives, under the direction of the Controller and Keeper (who is the chief executive of The National Archives). The National Archives (HMSO) manages the publication of all three of the individual Gazette titles (London, Belfast and Edinburgh) for the King’s Printer, under a concessionary contract.

Notices printed in The Gazette are afforded legal standing, and The Gazette itself is afforded special protection by the Documentary Evidence Act 1882.

Who can place a notice in The Gazette?

As an official public record, notices can only be placed in The Gazette by registered and verified persons acting in an official capacity, who have the authority to create an official record of fact – for example, insolvency practitioners, solicitors, or executors of a will.

Notice placers are solely responsible for the content of any notice, including its validity and accuracy. All notice placers have to register with The Stationery Office (TSO). Once registered, TSO carries out validation checks to ensure that the notice placer has the authority to place the type of notice that they wish to place (for example, are they a registered insolvency practitioner if they want to place a corporate insolvency notice?).

Additional validation checks may be required to ensure that The Gazette can satisfy itself as to the legal, statutory and/or procedural requirements and accuracy relating to any notice. For example, supporting documentation may be requested, such as a court order, before a notice is submitted for publication. The Gazette website provides information on who is authorised to place which type of notice.

See how to place a notice.

Historical events and individual citations

The Gazette has been recording national and international events since November 1665, in its first incarnation as The Oxford Gazette.

From England’s Glorious Revolution to despatches from the front, and honours and awards for gallantry or meritorious service – as well as officer commissions, appointments and promotions, and casualties – it’s a key resource for the researcher. Genealogists can sketch out a soldier’s career, and insolvency notices can help track an individual or company’s financial history.

The Gazette is also the official home of the King’s Birthday and New Year honours, which are published on the King’s official birthday in June and in the New Year. Honours supplements since 1945 can be found here, with searchable individual notice pages for recent awardees.

Special supplements

A Gazette supplement gathers certain notices placed in The Gazette and publishes them all together in one special edition.

For example, The Gazette is the official bearer of War Office and Ministry of Defence events, and a weekly supplement is published on behalf of the forces every Tuesday. The Company Law Supplement is also published weekly in all three editions of The Gazette and details information notified to, or by, the Registrar of Companies.

Read more about what supplements are published in The Gazette

A Gazette Extraordinary is a special edition deemed to require additional gravitas to reflect the importance of the event, such as declaration of war or the accession of a monarch to the throne.

Datasets and data service

The Gazette is at the heart of official data, and contains valuable information and records that you can search for and download free of charge.

The Gazette is a rich source of open data, including longitudinal datasets and linked data. It’s free for the developer community to use and repurpose and (unless stated otherwise) is free for you to use under the Open Government Licence.

The official information recorded in The Gazette, whether related to insolvency, transport or deceased estates, is designed to support risk and opportunity management in business and government.

The Gazette data service can provide you with this information, direct to your inbox, as a one-off or regular report daily, weekly or monthly.

All the Government orders, notifications, memorandum, Acts, Rules etc. of the Govt. of Manipur are published in the State Gazettes, Gazettes of India are also republished in the State Gazette from time to time. Gazettes are printed and published in two Categories –

1. Ordinary Gazette and
2. Extra-ordinary Gazette

Extra-ordinary Gazettes are published every day for urgent enforcement of Rules, Orders and Notifications and Ordinary Gazettes are published every Wednesday os a weekly issues by compiling its parts. It comprises 5 parts.

– Part I consists of Appointments, Postings, Transfers, Powers, Leave and other personal,
– Part II (A) – Resolutions, Regulations, Orders, Notifications and Rules, etc.,
– Part II (B) – Orders, Notifications and Rules of the High Court of Assam,
– Part III – Orders, Notifications and Rules of the Government of India,
– Part IV– Advertisements and Notices by the Government Offices.

Earlier, Manipur Gazettes were printed/published in Letterpress process but now both the Extra-ordinary and Ordinary Gazettes are printing in Offset process and digital mimeographic process by typesetting/scanning in the DTP Systems. Gazette copies are made available to the public by direct sale, it can also be subscribed on an annual basis.

Gazette Price:

The price of the Gazette is Rs. 1 per page up-to 10 pages and Rs. 0.50 for subsequent pages for Extra-ordinary and Rs. 1.50 per page up-to 10 pages and Rs. 0 .75 for subsequent pages for Ordinary Gazettes respectively. Annual subscription fee of Rs. 400/- and Rs. 500/- with postage is charged from the subscribers. Generally, non-postage subscribers collect their copies from the Directorate’s Library. The present number of regular subscriber is 166 of which 20 copies are sent by post. Gazette copies are also supplied to the important Departments and Offices of the State Govt. at free of cost. Besides, free copies supplied to other important Offices and Libraries of other States too.

What is a gazette?

A gazette is an official publication for the purpose of notifying the actions and decisions of the government.

Notices published in government gazettes cover all aspects of government concern and regulation, and most are published because of a requirement of law. Acts, regulations and other subordinate legislation are notified in all gazettes or in full as part of the notification.

What you might find in a gazette

Gazettes contain some surprising information:

proclamations which bring Acts into operation
Public Service vacancies, appointments and promotions
government tenders
land notices: acquisition, disposal and transfers of property, leases granted
lists of awards, honours, medals
electoral notices
government orders of various kinds
private notices of a legal nature e.g. bankruptcies, company registrations and windings-up, probate, by-laws of companies under royal charter
government purchasing matters
local government matters
registers of medical professionals

What is the best way to start looking for government notices in a gazette?

Start with what you know – for example a person’s name, occupation, dates, land tenures.
Know the name of the Act.

The official Gazette of India is a government publication that serves as the official record of the government’s activities, decisions, and notifications. It is a crucial tool for transparency and communication between the government and the public.

Under the Directorate of Printing, Department of Publication, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India, the Gazette of India holds a significant position as an official government publication with legal standing. The publication is a crucial component, and the legal importance of its content is paramount.

One noteworthy aspect is that every legislative act and official decision gains legal force only upon publication in the official Gazette. This underscores the Gazette’s role as a medium through which the government communicates its actions to the public, and these actions attain legal standing once they appear in its pages.

Section 5 of the General Clauses Act states that operation of enactments may either be done from the date on which it receives assent or as per the date of notification. This shows the importance of the Gazette with implementation of law.

It highlights the flexibility in determining the commencement of enactments and emphasizes the role of the Gazette as a vital tool in the implementation of law by providing an official platform for the publication of notifications and ensuring that the public is informed about the effective date of legal provisions.

The reference to the Gazette in this context underscores its role as the official government publication where legal notices, notifications, and other official communications are published. When an enactment is scheduled to commence from the date of notification, the Gazette becomes the medium through which the information is disseminated to the public.

The Gazette, being a public record of government actions, ensures transparency and accessibility. It serves as a centralized source for citizens, legal professionals, and other stakeholders to access critical information about the commencement of laws and regulations.

Section 11 of the Government Gazette Act states Every entry in the Gazette shall be presumed to have been made under the orders of a competent authority. An order published in the Gazette may be proved to have been issued by the production of a copy of the Gazette in which it may be found printed.

The section establishes a legal presumption regarding entries in the Gazette, emphasizing the authority of the publication and facilitating the proof of government orders by referencing the Gazette. This provision contributes to the reliability and legal standing of the Gazette as an essential tool in the legal and administrative landscape.

Significance of the Gazette of India

The Gazette of India stands as the authoritative record of the nation’s governmental activities, encapsulating legislative, executive, and judicial actions. Here are key insights into this pivotal publication:

1. Official Record:

The Gazette encompasses a comprehensive record of government notifications, orders, regulations, and official announcements, portraying the full spectrum of official actions.

2. Publication Authority:

Under the Ministry of Urban Development, the Controller of Publications, Government of India, authorizes the publication, ensuring its authenticity and reliability. The Government of India Press handles the printing processes.

3. Types of Gazettes:

Published in diverse forms such as the Extraordinary Gazette, Weekly Gazette, and Part II Section III Gazette, each variant serves specific purposes, contributing to a nuanced and specialized dissemination of information.

4. Legal Significance:

The Gazette’s pages hold legal weight, signifying that many official actions, decisions, and regulations attain legal status only upon their publication in this esteemed government record.

5. Access to Information:

Serving as a gateway to official government information, the Gazette offers citizens, researchers, and legal professionals unfettered access to a comprehensive collection, fostering transparency and accountability.

6. Online Availability:

Embracing technological advancements, recent initiatives have focused on digitizing the Gazette of India, making it accessible online. This move enhances its reach and convenience, aligning with contemporary trends in information dissemination.

In essence, the Gazette of India emerges as more than a mere publication; it stands as a pillar of transparency, legal authority, and accessibility in the governmental landscape.

The Gazette’s Role in Constitutional Transparency

The Constitution of India intricately weaves a path of power, mandating the publication of official notifications and orders in the Gazette. This process is fundamental in upholding transparency and accountability The several key domains are:

1. Constitutional Mandate:

Enshrined in the Constitution, the publication of official notifications and orders in the Gazette serves as a foundational element, acting as a conduit for the transparent dissemination of government actions.

2. Legislative Imperatives:

Various laws and regulations stipulate the mandatory publication of specific government actions and decisions in the Gazette of India to confer legal efficacy upon them. Notably, amendments in laws, rules, and regulations find their legal standing through publication in this esteemed government record.

3. Executive Authority:

The executive branch, comprising ministries and government departments, wields its authority through the issuance of orders, notifications, and official documents. The legal force behind these actions is derived from the government’s executive powers, with their official documentation finding a home in the Gazette.

4. Judicial Recognition:

Judicial decisions and judgments, pivotal components of the legal landscape, find their way into the Gazette when deemed necessary. This inclusion not only bestows legal effect upon these decisions but also ensures their widespread dissemination, contributing to a transparent and informed society.

In essence, the flow of power within the constitutional framework relies heavily on the Gazette of India, transforming it into a dynamic instrument that not only records but also legitimizes and propels the actions of the government through constitutional, legislative, executive, and judicial realms.

From where Gazette of India derives its authority?

The Gazette of India derives its authority from various constitutional provisions, acts, and rules, serving as a pivotal instrument for transparency, accountability, and the legal enforceability of government actions and decisions. Here’s an exploration of the multifaceted authority that underpins “The Gazette of India”:

1. Constitution of India:

Article 145: The Supreme Court of India is empowered by Article 145 of the Constitution to formulate rules governing its practice and procedure. This includes provisions mandating the publication of select judgments and orders in the official Gazette.
Article 348: This constitutional article grants the President of India the authority to authorize the use of Hindi for official purposes. This provision influences the bilingual publication of official notifications and documents in both Hindi and English in “The Gazette of India.”

2. Legislative Framework:

Specific acts and rules, such as the Official Languages Act, 1963, and rules pertaining to government administration, mandate the publication of government decisions, notifications, and orders in “The Gazette of India.”

3. Executive Exercise:

A significant portion of the content published in the Gazette results from the executive authority wielded by diverse government ministries and departments. The legal effect and public awareness of their actions and decisions are often contingent upon their publication in the Gazette.

4. Sector-Specific Mandates:

Various laws and regulations in sectors like finance, education, and administration prescribe the publication of specific information and decisions in the Gazette, contributing to the comprehensive and sector-specific nature of this official record.

5. Legal Enforceability of Laws:

Acts and regulations, the backbone of new laws and regulations introduced by the Indian Parliament or state legislatures, gain formal legal standing through their publication in the Gazette.

6. Notifications, Orders, and Circulars:

Government notifications, orders, and circulars spanning administrative decisions, appointments, promotions, and other actions find their legal effect through publication in the Gazette, ensuring a transparent and accountable governance process.

7. Judicial Pronouncements:

While the primary source of judicial precedent is court judgments, certain decisions of the Supreme Court and High Courts find wider accessibility and recognition through their publication in the Gazette.

8. Official Language Declarations:

Declarations and orders related to the use of official languages in states and union territories, mandated by the Constitution of India, find their place in the Gazette.

In essence, the Gazette of India operates under a diverse array of constitutional provisions, legislative mandates, and executive actions, playing a pivotal role in shaping the legal landscape and ensuring the transparent functioning of the Indian government across various spheres.

Conclusion

The Gazette of India stands as a formidable cornerstone in the edifice of India’s governance structure, wielding authority and serving as the bedrock of transparency, accountability, and legal efficacy. Under the aegis of the Directorate of Printing, Department of Publication, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India, this official government publication is not merely a repository of information but a dynamic force shaping the nation’s legal and administrative landscape.

In essence, the Gazette of India is not a static publication but a living entity, adapting to technological advancements with online availability. It stands as a pillar of transparency, legal authority, and accessibility, ensuring that the government’s actions are not only recorded but also resonate with legal standing, contributing to a well-informed and accountable society. As the authoritative record of the nation’s governmental activities, the Gazette of India remains an enduring symbol of governance transparency.