One of my clients recently had a case which I am explaining below and if you are stuck in such similar situation, here is what to do.
Note: Due to attorney-client privilege, I cannot disclose complete case details or identify the actual parties involved. However, I am sharing the essential facts and legal approach so that if you find yourself in a similar situation, you can understand the available solutions and legal remedies.
TL;DR: A wrong gender in a passport application, entered by mistake, is a correctable error and not a crime. The usual fix is an application for re-issue with change in personal particulars, backed by an affidavit and the right supporting documents. It only turns serious if the wrong information was given knowingly, or if the passport office refuses and you have to escalate to an appeal or a writ petition.
Losing track of one box on a long form is easier than it sounds. The applicant in this matter, referred to here as Nikhil Bansal, submitted his passport application online from Indore in the early weeks of 2025. Somewhere in that form