Short answer: a gazetted officer is a government officer whose appointment is published in the Gazette of India or a State Gazette. All Group A (Class 1) officers and Group B gazetted officers can attest documents — for example SDMs, Tehsildars, BDOs, government college principals and professors, and medical officers in government hospitals. A notary public is not a gazetted officer.
Every year lakhs of students and job seekers are told to get their documents “attested by a gazetted officer”. The instruction sounds simple until you try to find one. Who exactly counts? Is your school principal gazetted? What about a bank manager or a notary? This guide gives you a clear gazetted officer list for attestation, explains the Class 1 / Group A rule, and shows how to get a valid attestation quickly.
What is a gazetted officer?
The word gazetted comes from the Gazette — the government’s official legal publication. When the President of India or a State Governor appoints, promotes or transfers an officer to a senior post, it is notified in the Gazette. Officers whose posts are notified this way are called gazetted officers.
Because they hold responsible public posts, offices accept their signature and seal as proof that a photocopy matches the original, that a photograph is really yours, or that they know your character. That is why exam boards, universities and many government forms ask for them.
Gazetted officer classes: Group A, Group B and Group C
Government posts in India are grouped by level. Only some of them are gazetted:
| Group / class | Gazetted? | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Group A (Class 1) | Yes — always | IAS, IPS, IFS, IRS, state civil services, Group A engineers, doctors, professors |
| Group B (Class 2) — gazetted | Yes | Section Officers in central ministries and many state Group B posts |
| Group B (Class 2) — non-gazetted | No | Assistants and similar posts |
| Group C and D | No | Clerks, assistants and support staff |
When a form says “attested by a Class 1 gazetted officer” or “Group A gazetted officer”, only the first row qualifies. When it simply says “gazetted officer”, Group B gazetted officers are usually accepted too.
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List of gazetted officers who can attest documents
Designations vary slightly from state to state, but these officers are commonly accepted as gazetted officers for attestation:
- Civil services: IAS, IPS, IFS, IRS and other Group A central service officers
- District administration: District Magistrate, ADM, SDM, Tehsildar, Naib Tehsildar (in many states) and Block Development Officer
- Education: principal of a government college; professors, associate and assistant professors in government colleges and central or state universities; principal of a government senior secondary school in many states
- Health: medical officers, senior medical officers and CMOs in government hospitals and dispensaries
- Engineering: Executive Engineer, Assistant Engineer and above in PWD, CPWD, Jal Board and similar departments
- Police: DSP / ACP and above
- Armed forces: commissioned officers — Lieutenant and above in the Army, and equivalent ranks in the Navy and Air Force
- Central ministries: Section Officer, Under Secretary and above
- Railways and other central departments: Group A and Group B gazetted officers
Always read the exact wording on your form. If it asks for a Class 1 / Group A officer, a Group B gazetted officer may be rejected — and you lose days going back.
Who is NOT a gazetted officer?
These people are often mistaken for gazetted officers, but their attestation will usually be rejected where a gazetted officer is required:
- Notary public — a lawyer appointed under the Notaries Act, 1952. Read notary public vs gazetted officer.
- Advocates and oath commissioners
- Bank managers — including officers of public sector banks
- Private school and private college principals
- Teachers (TGT / PGT) in most states, clerks and other Group C staff
- MLAs, MPs and councillors — some forms accept a certificate from them separately, but they are not gazetted officers
Quick answers: is this officer gazetted?
| Officer | Gazetted? |
|---|---|
| SDM (Sub-Divisional Magistrate) | Yes — a gazetted executive magistrate |
| Tehsildar / BDO | Yes, in most states |
| Government college principal | Yes |
| Government school principal | Often yes (Group B gazetted in many states) — check your state |
| Government doctor / medical officer | Yes, in most government health services |
| Executive Engineer | Yes |
| Notary public | No |
| Advocate | No |
| Bank manager | No |
| Police Inspector | Usually no; DSP / ACP and above, yes |
Still confused between the authorities? Our comparison of notary vs SDM vs first class magistrate explains which one your form is really asking for.
How to recognise a valid gazetted officer attestation
- An original signature in ink — not a scanned or printed signature
- An official seal or stamp showing the officer’s full name, designation and office
- The date of attestation
- On photocopies, the words “Attested” or “True copy”; on photographs, the signature runs partly across the photo and partly on the paper
- If the form has boxes for the officer’s phone number or employee ID, they must be filled
Is gazetted officer attestation still required?
Since 2014 the central government has asked departments to accept self-attested copies for many purposes, and plenty of offices now do. But many exam boards, universities, scholarship schemes, passport annexures, government job forms and character certificates still insist on a gazetted officer. If your form says so, self-attestation will not be enough.
Gazetted officer near me in Delhi — how we help
Finding an available gazetted officer — and one whose stamp your authority will accept — is the hard part. At SK Document Centre in New Ashok Nagar (close to Mayur Vihar, Noida and Ghaziabad) we:
- read your form’s exact requirement first
- arrange gazetted officer attestation of photocopies, photographs and forms
- check that the seal shows full name and designation
- return documents the same day in most cases, or courier them anywhere in India
Not sure which attestation your form needs? Send a photo of it on WhatsApp or call +91 93109 70010 — we tell you the exact process before you spend any money.
Frequently asked questions
Who comes under the gazetted officer list?
All Group A (Class 1) officers and Group B gazetted officers of the central and state governments — for example IAS and IPS officers, SDMs, Tehsildars, BDOs, government college principals and professors, government doctors and executive engineers.
Is a notary a gazetted officer?
No. A notary public is appointed under the Notaries Act, 1952 and is not a gazetted government officer.
Is a government school principal a gazetted officer?
In many states the principal of a government senior secondary school is a Group B gazetted officer, but this varies by state. Ask the principal or the office that issued your form.
Is SDM a gazetted officer?
Yes. The Sub-Divisional Magistrate is a gazetted executive magistrate and can attest documents.
Is a bank manager a gazetted officer?
No. Bank officers, including those in public sector banks, are not gazetted government officers.
Who is a Class 1 gazetted officer?
A Group A officer of the central or state government — such as IAS, IPS, state civil service officers, Group A engineers, government doctors and professors.
Where can I get gazetted officer attestation near me?
In East Delhi, visit SK Document Centre at C-260, New Ashok Nagar, Delhi 110096, or courier your documents. Call +91 93109 70010.
SK Document Centre has helped people in Delhi NCR with attestation, affidavits, apostille and embassy legalisation for over a decade. Questions about your documents? WhatsApp us.
