Latest news with #ArjunDeore
Time of India
06-08-2025
- Time of India
Mobile van brings passport services closer to applicants
1 2 Pune: Want to get your passport without visiting a Passport Seva Kendra? People across Pune's 12-district jurisdiction can now book an appointment at a mobile passport van — a new service that brings passport application facilities directly to select locations, including universities and remote areas. All they need to do is visit the passport India website, choose "RPO Mobile Van" as the application centre , and arrive at the scheduled location with the necessary documents. The initiative — launched for the first time in the Pune RPO (regional passport office) jurisdiction — aims to reduce travel burdens and improve access to passport services for students, senior citizens, and residents in underserved areas. "The move aims at improving last-mile delivery of passport services via the van, which is a fully equipped unit that will travel across its 12-district jurisdiction to bring essential services closer to citizens," said Arjun Deore, regional passport officer, Pune. You Can Also Check: Pune AQI | Weather in Pune | Bank Holidays in Pune | Public Holidays in Pune The van does not only have air conditioning, but is also outfitted with biometric scanners, photo capture systems and document verification tools. It will make its second stop at Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU), catering to students and staff who often face delays or travel burdens while applying for passports. After a pilot run at the RPO Baner office, the van will be scheduled to visit colleges and underserved areas in the coming weeks. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like DNA Discovery Reveals Truth About Native Americans Daily Sport X Undo "This initiative is about accessibility. By taking passport services to people's doorsteps — especially students, the elderly and those in remote areas — we aim to reduce travel time, streamline the process and ensure timely issuance," Deore said. He said that the mobile unit is an addition to Pune RPO's existing network of 19 Passport Seva Kendras (PSKs) and post office PSKs, and is part of a broader effort to improve citizen services under the ministry of external affairs' outreach strategy. "The upcoming deployment at SPPU is significant, given the large volume of students who need passports for overseas education, internships, and conferences. We wanted to start with students, many of whom are first-time applicants. When these students later need a passport for higher education or international programmes, they'll already be prepared," Deore said. The van offers full application services, including submission — reducing dependence on fixed centres and cutting down on waiting times. Deore said, "We are committed to making passport services more accessible to every citizen. By bringing the services directly to the community through the mobile passport van, we aim to ease the application process and ensure timely passport issuance with minimal inconvenience. " The schedule and locations for the mobile passport van will be announced regularly, covering major educational institutions and remote areas of various districts. This will help applicants avail passport services without the need to travel long distances, he said. He said that even residents within Pune city can avail of this service and appointments can be booked through the passport India website. People can track its movement on Pune RPO's official handle on X (@rpopune) or visit [ for updates.
Time of India
30-07-2025
- Time of India
Tatkaal passport appointments at Pune PSK this Saturday
Pune: The ministry of external affairs has announced the release of Tatkaal passport appointments at the Passport Seva Kendra (PSK), Pune, for Saturday as a part of its ongoing initiative to make services more accessible to citizens. A similar drive was conducted in July. Pune Regional Passport officer Arjun Deore said, "Many applicants fail on either document requirements or eligibility criteria, and thus cannot submit applications successfully. Applicants must carefully read the Tatkaal advisory and Tatkaal undertaking to avoid any potential issues on the appointment day." You Can Also Check: Pune AQI | Weather in Pune | Bank Holidays in Pune | Public Holidays in Pune Under Section 5 of the Passports Act 1967, the passport authority may conduct additional inquiries and demand extra documentation, as deemed necessary. Deore advised applicants to carry original documents, including QR code birth certificate with Aadhaar number, Std 10 certificate, existing passport, latest eAadhaar with scannable QR code, PAN card with hologram, voter ID with hologram and driving licence. Married applicants need a marriage certificate or joint photo declaration (Annexure J), while parents applying for minors require Annexure D and both parents' passports. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Libas Purple Days Sale Libas Undo "Smart ID cards printed on plastic by private entities are not accepted, and Aadhaar is not considered as proof of date of birth," Dr Deore clarified. Applicants must download mAadhaar and DigiLocker apps and ensure all QR codes on documents can be scanned for verification before visiting the PSK. Only DigiLocker-issued documents shared during online application submission will be accepted, while uploaded documents to DigiLocker Drive are not treated as authentic.
Time of India
22-07-2025
- Time of India
Regular passports valid, touts spreading fake info: RPO chief
Pune: Passport agents and touts are exploiting the launch of e-passports to spread false information that regular passports are no longer valid, said Arjun Deore, regional passport officer at Pune RPO, on vested interests trying to drum up unnecessary business, there have been instances where citizens were misled into believing they need to replace their existing valid passports immediately with e-passports."There is misinformation circulating among people. Citizens with passports valid for several years are being told that their documents are no longer valid because 'passport' offices are now issuing e-passports. There are vested interests — certain agents who want to generate new applicants — who are spreading this kind of misinformation," said warning comes as Pune RPO (regional passport office) has now transitioned to issuing only e-passports since the first week of May 2025, making it one of the major passport offices in India to implement the new technology under the Passport Seva Programme 2.0. "All passports that we have been issuing since the first week of May are e-passports," Deore Pune RPO chief emphasised that citizens should not fall for these misleading claims. "Unless your passport is damaged or invalid, it remains perfectly acceptable for use. Only those who genuinely need new passports — those with expired passports, exhausted pages or damaged documents — should apply. Citizens should not apply merely for the novelty of having an e-passport," he per the ministry of external affairs, all regular passports issued under the previous Passport Seva Programme 1.0 remain completely valid and can continue to be used for travel purposes, subject to normal validity periods and other provisions under the Passports Act, e-passport rollout at Pune RPO is part of a nationwide expansion of the technology, which was initially piloted in smaller offices in Nagpur and Bhubaneswar last year before being extended to major regional the digital nomenclature, e-passports are still physical booklets identical to regular passports, with one crucial addition — an embedded RFID (radio frequency identification) chip that stores passport data securely."The term e-passport does not mean it can be downloaded to a mobile phone or any digital device. It remains a physical booklet. The only difference is that it contains an embedded chip," explained Deore. The booklet features a distinctive chip logo on the front cover though the actual chip is located on a different page chip technology, similar to that used in debit cards, enables automated identity verification at immigration counters and significantly enhances security by making tampering extremely RPO wins national awardRegional Passport Office, Pune, received the first prize for "innovative steps and citizen-centric initiatives" during the recent Passport Seva Divas celebration. Minister of state for external affairs Pabitra Margherita presented the award to Arjun Deore, regional passport its notable achievements, Pune RPO became the first passport office to install an 80kW rooftop solar plant in Jan 2025 under the Pradhan Mantri Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, generating 25% of its monthly electricity needs and saving Rs1 lakh per month.
Arab Times
11-04-2025
- General
- Arab Times
India's New Passport Rule: Add Spouse's Name Without Marriage Certificate
NEW DELHI, April 11: In a significant move to simplify the passport application process for Indian citizens, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has announced that applicants can now add their spouse's name to their passport without the need for a marriage certificate. The new rule introduces a Joint Photo Declaration (Annexure J) as a valid substitute for the traditional marriage certificate. According to Arjun Deore, the regional passport officer in Pune, the Joint Photo Declaration, signed by both husband and wife, will now serve as an official alternative to the marriage certificate. This change addresses a common challenge faced by applicants who often struggle to provide a valid marriage certificate, especially in regions where marriages are not always formally registered. A senior passport official explained that the new rule is intended to address the significant disparities in marriage registration practices across India. While marriages in Maharashtra are generally registered by default, many northern states do not mandate marriage registration, leaving applicants without formal documentation. The MEA introduced the Joint Photo Declaration to accommodate applicants who often lack complete paperwork. Annexure J requires the couple to declare their names, address, and marital status, confirming that they have been living together as a married couple. The form also includes a space for a self-attested joint photograph, and both parties must sign the declaration, specifying the place and date. Additionally, the form asks for Aadhaar Card numbers, voter IDs, and passport numbers (if available) for both spouses. Dr. Deore further clarified that the form includes a designated section for the joint photograph, and the declaration will be considered valid only if all fields are completed, including names, Aadhaar numbers, voter IDs, and passport numbers where applicable. However, the ministry emphasized that removing a spouse's name from a passport still requires a divorce decree or court order. To update a spouse's name following a divorce, applicants will need to provide either a divorce decree, the death certificate of the previous spouse, a remarriage certificate, or the Joint Photo Declaration (Annexure J) signed by both parties, along with updated identity documents, including QR-code-enabled Aadhaar verification. This change is expected to streamline the passport application process for many citizens, especially those in regions where marriage registration practices may differ.
