Is the Law Ministry Allowing Gujarat to Expand Notary Count?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Gujarat to increase Notaries to 6,000.
- Other states like Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu also receive increases.
- Response to rising population and demand for services.
- 34,900 Certificates of Practice issued till July 31.
- Notary Portal enhances online service efficiency.
New Delhi, Oct 19 (NationPress) The government of Gujarat has been granted permission by the Ministry of Law and Justice to raise the total number of Notaries from 2,900 to 6,000, as confirmed by an official statement on Sunday. This decision is part of the recent notification regarding the Notaries (Amendment) Rules, 2025 issued on October 17. Additionally, the Department of Legal Affairs has permitted Rajasthan to boost its Notary count from 2,000 to 3,000, and Nagaland from 200 to 400.
The government of Tamil Nadu is also seeing an increase, now allowed to appoint up to 3,500 Notaries, up from the previous 2,500.
This expansion is a direct response to the requests made by the respective state governments, acknowledging the increasing population, the rise in the number of districts/tehsils/talukas, and the growing need for Notary services.
Earlier, Arjun Ram Meghwal, the Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Law and Justice, indicated that as of July 31, the government has issued 34,900 digitally-signed Certificates of Practice to newly-appointed Notaries across various states and union territories via the new Notary Portal.
Meghwal elaborated on the platform's features that facilitate online services related to the Notaries Act, 1952, and the Notaries Rules, 1956. The Notary Portal aims to create a seamless online connection between Notaries appointed by the Central government and the Government of India, allowing services such as application submissions, eligibility verification, and issuance of a digitally signed Certificate of Practice.
Furthermore, the Portal supports certificate renewals, changes in practice area, and annual return submissions. The Minister stated that the Notary Portal offers a faceless, paperless, transparent, and efficient system.
“Currently, the module for document verification, eligibility assessment, and issuance of a digitally signed Certificate of Practice for newly appointed Notaries is operational,” he added.