Resources · Glossary
Glossary: the words on your forms, in plain English
Government paperwork is full of abbreviations and jargon that quietly cause mistakes. This glossary defines the terms you will meet across gazette, passport, GST, DSC and legal documentation — plainly, and in one place.
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Overview
Know the word before you sign the form
A surprising number of application errors come down to not knowing what a term means — signing the wrong annexure, confusing suspension with cancellation, or assuming eKYC and a DSC are the same thing. The definitions below are grouped by area. They are general explanations, not legal definitions; where a term matters to your case, the linked service page and the official portal give the precise position.
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Gazette & legal
Gazette and legal documentation
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Gazette | The government's official public journal. A change published in it — such as a name change — becomes part of the permanent public record. |
| e-Gazette | The online, PDF-based gazette that replaced printed copies. Gujarat moved to e-gazette only in 2021; entries are downloaded from egazette.gujarat.gov.in. |
| Affidavit | A written statement sworn as true before a notary or authorised officer. A name-change affidavit declares the old name, the new name and the reason. |
| Notarisation | The act of a notary certifying that an affidavit or document was sworn or signed before them, giving it legal weight. |
| Stamp paper / e-stamp | Paper (or an electronic equivalent) carrying paid stamp duty, on which affidavits and agreements are executed. Gujarat uses e-stamping. |
| Indemnity bond | A written promise to compensate another party for a specified loss — often required in lost-document and certain business situations. |
| Public notice | The newspaper advertisement announcing a change (such as a new name), a required step before a gazette name change is published. |
| Attestation | Official confirmation, by an authorised person, that a copy is true to the original or that a fact is verified. |
| Declaration | A formal signed statement of fact, sometimes made instead of or alongside an affidavit, depending on what the receiving authority requires. |
| Undertaking | A written promise to do (or not do) something, often required as a condition attached to an application or agreement. |
| Power of Attorney | A legal document authorising one person to act on another's behalf for specified matters, executed on stamp paper and usually notarised. |
Passport
Passport
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Passport Seva | The government's online passport system for applying, paying, booking appointments and tracking status. |
| PSK / POPSK | Passport Seva Kendra / Post Office Passport Seva Kendra — the centres where your passport application is processed in person. |
| Tatkal | A faster passport processing scheme with a higher government fee and specific document rules, for urgent cases. |
| Re-issue | Getting a new passport in place of an existing one — on expiry, exhaustion of pages, or a change of details such as name or address. |
| Annexure | A standard pre-formatted declaration or affidavit attached to a passport application, such as a parental-consent form for a minor. |
| ECR / ECNR | Emigration Check Required / Not Required — a passport status affecting travel for certain employment; based on education and category. |
| Police verification | The step where local police confirm your identity and address for a passport, done before, after, or without issue depending on the case. |
| Appointment / slot | The booked date and time at a PSK or POPSK when your passport application is processed in person; slots are limited and released periodically. |
GST & tax
GST and income tax
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| GSTIN | The 15-digit Goods and Services Tax Identification Number issued to a registered taxpayer. |
| ARN | Application Reference Number — the tracking number generated when you submit a GST application, used to follow its status. |
| TRN | Temporary Reference Number — issued in Part A of registration, before the full application is completed. |
| REG-01 / REG-06 | REG-01 is the GST registration application form; REG-06 is the registration certificate issued on approval. |
| GSTR-1 / GSTR-3B | Key GST returns — GSTR-1 reports outward sales; GSTR-3B is the summary return with tax payment. |
| QRMP | Quarterly Return, Monthly Payment — a scheme letting smaller taxpayers file quarterly while paying tax monthly. |
| Composition scheme | A simplified GST scheme for small businesses paying tax at a flat rate with lighter compliance, in place of the regular scheme. |
| LUT | Letter of Undertaking — lets exporters supply goods or services without paying IGST upfront. |
| Suspension vs cancellation | Suspension is a temporary hold on a GSTIN during a cancellation process; cancellation is its permanent end. |
| ITR | Income Tax Return — the annual statement of income and tax filed on the income-tax portal. |
| HSN / SAC | Standardised codes that classify goods (HSN) and services (SAC) for GST, used on invoices and returns. |
| Nil return | A GST return filed for a period in which there was no outward supply or tax to report — still required to stay compliant. |
| Reverse charge | A mechanism where the recipient of a supply, rather than the supplier, is liable to pay the GST on it. |
DSC & identity
Digital signatures and identity
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| DSC | Digital Signature Certificate — an electronic credential that signs online filings with legal validity, issued by a licensed Certifying Authority. |
| Class 3 DSC | The current standard DSC used for GST, MCA, income-tax, tender and other secure filings. |
| CCA | Controller of Certifying Authorities — the government regulator that licenses the authorities allowed to issue DSCs. |
| Certifying Authority (CA) | A licensed body authorised by the CCA to issue Digital Signature Certificates. |
| eKYC | Electronic Know-Your-Customer — verifying identity digitally, typically via Aadhaar and an OTP, used when issuing a DSC. |
| USB / crypto token | A secure FIPS-compliant USB device that stores a signing DSC safely, required for many filing purposes. |
| eSign | An Aadhaar-based one-time online signature, distinct from a DSC that resides on a token. |
| Aadhaar | The 12-digit unique identity number issued by UIDAI, widely used for eKYC and verification. |
| PAN | Permanent Account Number — the 10-character tax identity issued by the Income Tax Department. |
| DigiLocker | The government's official digital wallet for storing and sharing verified documents. |
| OTP | One-Time Password — a temporary code sent to your mobile or email to confirm an action. |
Met a term that is not here? Ask us and we will explain it — and add it if it will help others. For the portals behind these terms, see the official links page.
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