Latest news with #PassportSevaKendras
Economic Times
03-08-2025
- Business
- Economic Times
Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini distributes appointment letters to newly selected Group D employees
ANI Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini distributes appointment letters to newly selected Group D employees Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini distributed appointment letters to newly selected Group D employees at a ceremony held in the state capital on Chief Minister Nayab Saini on X posted his best wishes to the newly selected Group D employees upon receiving their appointment letters during an introductory program held in Panchkula, at the revered site of Mansa his X post, he wrote, "Best wishes to the newly selected employees of Group D for their appointment letters and new responsibilities! This 'introductory program' organised on the sacred land of Panchkula, situated at the feet of Mother Mansa Devi, marks the day of a new beginning for the new employees. Today's youth is full of new ideas and energy. My appeal is that you adopt new technologies and work with honesty and transparency at the grassroots level because every small step you take, every honest effort, can bring about a significant change. If Haryana is reaching new heights in every field today, this success is not only due to policymakers but also to the youth. Make public service the goal of your life. I hope that all of you will live up to the expectations of the state's citizens."On Thursday, the Chief Minister unveiled the new official website of the Revenue & Disaster Management stated that through this initiative, transparency will be ensured in the department, and the scope of leakages will be eliminated. He emphasised the transformative impact of the new website. "The Revenue Department will now be even closer to the people. With this new website, all revenue services are consolidated onto a single platform, eliminating the need for citizens to make repeated visits to revenue offices."The technologically advanced website boasts features such as Single Sign-On (SSO), which allows users to access multiple applications and websites with a single set of login credentials. It also offers online slot booking, real-time digital display systems, dedicated help desks, and information available in local languages, according to a release.A key highlight is the ability for citizens to submit registration applications from the ease of their homes, requiring only a single biometric presence for finalisation, thereby significantly accelerating and simplifying the process. With the launch of this new website, all 26 services will be under one roof. The State Government will modernise all registration offices across the state by restructuring them on the model of Passport Seva Kendras, the Chief Minister added. He stated that the Haryana government has ushered in a new era for revenue records, which are now fully GIS-based, enabling real-time monitoring of land status.
Time of India
08-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Surge in First-Time Indian International Visa Applications by 32%: Atlys Report, ET TravelWorld
Advt By , ETTravelWorld Join the community of 2M+ industry professionals. Subscribe to Newsletter to get latest insights & analysis in your inbox. All about ETTravelWorld industry right on your smartphone! Download the ETTravelWorld App and get the Realtime updates and Save your favourite articles. India's outbound travel landscape is evolving rapidly as a new segment of first-time international travellers gains momentum. Atlys , a digital visa processing platform, has recorded a 32 per cent rise in visa applications from first-time travellers in the past year. Over half of this increase is emerging from Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities such as Lucknow, Surat, Chandigarh, Jaipur and Pune, underlining a shift in the country's travel travellers are not primarily travelling for business or family visits abroad. Many are planning their first overseas holidays, embarking on trips with friends, celebrating milestones, or realising long-held aspirations. Atlys data indicates that the majority of these new travellers are under the age of 35, with young couples and families among the most active in the Gulf and Southeast Asia are proving especially popular. Countries such as the UAE, Thailand and Indonesia remain attractive for their affordability, visa accessibility and regional connectivity. Dubai continues to lead among first-time Indian visitors, while destinations like Vietnam and Bali are gaining traction due to their immersive experiences and digital-first approach to travel.'Travel is no longer seen as a luxury, it's become an essential part of life,' said Mohak Nahta , Founder and CEO of Atlys. 'We're seeing year-on-year growth in first-time international travellers. This segment is being driven by affordable international flights , simplified digital visa processes, and rising income levels. Countries that streamline access and approvals will be the biggest winners in this next chapter of Indian outbound tourism.'This trend aligns with a growing passport infrastructure in India . According to the Ministry of External Affairs, India issued over 10.09 crore passports between 2014 and 2023, supported by a 340 per cent increase in Passport Seva Kendras across the country. However, just 8.71 per cent of the population currently holds an active passport, indicating substantial untapped digital visa solutions make global mobility more accessible, first-time Indian travellers are beginning to reshape the country's outbound tourism narrative—driven not just by metro cities, but by a much wider and younger demographic.
Time of India
29-06-2025
- Time of India
Passport Seva 2.0: Check out the eligibility, how to apply, documents required, benefits, and more
Passport Seva 2.0: Passport Seva 2.0 rollout marks a watershed moment in India's quest for streamlined, secure travel documents. Launched nationwide on Passport Seva Divas, the upgraded system introduces e-passports with embedded chips, fresh options like mobile passport vans, and enhanced Post Office Passport Seva Kendras . With the support of the mPassport Police App, police verification is now faster and more transparent, cutting delays from weeks to days. The result? A travel-ready document that meets global standards and delivers convenience to your doorstep. This transformation in the Passport Seva Programme signals a new era of digital-first governance and user-centric service. Keep reading to explore how this modernization might change how millions of Indians travel abroad. What is Passport Seva 2.0? With the June 25, 2025, launch of Passport Seva 2.0, India's passport services will undergo a technological revolution. Advanced features, including cloud computing for smooth service delivery, quicker police verification via the mPassport Police App, and more availability through mobile passport vans and new service centers, are all part of the updated system. There are 450 Post Office Passport Seva Kendras (POPSKs), with 10 more openings as of this writing. The e-Passport deployment, which External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar announced on the 13th Passport Seva Divas, ushers in a new era of travel documents for Indian nationals. With contactless chip technology, e-passports offer improved security, expedited immigration, and a seamless journey. Here is all the information you require to apply for an Indian e-passport. Passport Seva 2.0 available in these states Nagpur, Bhubaneswar, Jammu, Panaji, Shimla, Raipur, Amritsar, Jaipur, Tamil Nadu, Chennai, Hyderabad, Surat, and Ranchi are notable locations where the e-Passports service is being offered. Soon, it should be accessible across the country. e-Passport eligibility The requirements for applying for an e-passport are comparable to obtaining a traditional Indian passport. E-passports are now being issued in stages but will soon be required for all new applications. How to apply for Passport Seva 2.0? To apply for an e-passport, individuals can use the Passport Seva Portal or make an appointment for biometric enrollment at nearby Passport Seva Kendras or Post Office locations. Step 1: Register by going to the Passport Seva Online Portal. Step 2: Select the "Apply for Fresh Passport/Re-issue of Passport" link on the Passport Seva Online Portal after logging in. Applicants should choose the Fresh Issuance category if this is their first time applying. It should be noted that the applicant should not have previously held an official, diplomatic, or ordinary passport. Step 3: Complete the necessary information and submit. Step 4: Then tap "Pay and Schedule Appointment," accessible under "View Saved/Submitted Applications," to set up an appointment. Please be aware that all PSK, POPSK, and PO locations require online payment to schedule appointments. Step 5: Print the receipt with your Application Reference Number (ARN) or Appointment Number after completing the application. Your appointment details will also be sent to you via SMS. You must present it at the passport office, so save it. Step 6: After completing the passport application, bring original documentation to the Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) or Regional Passport Office (RPO) to finish the physical verification procedure. e-Passport: Document required To apply for an e-passport, you will need the following documents: Evidence of address, including utility bills, bank passbooks, Aadhaar, PAN cards, etc. Evidence of birth, including a driver's license, matriculation certificate, voter ID, birth certificate, Aadhaar, etc. The original passport, observation page, copies of the first and last pages, and an ECR or non-ECR page must all be submitted by those requesting a passport reissue. Benefits of e-passport The new e-passports are chip-enabled, biometric travel credentials that reduce fraud and improve identification verification. Important characteristics include: Encrypted biometric and personal information is stored on an embedded chip. Biometric information such as a photo, iris scan, and fingerprints Contactless scanning to expedite clearance at airports adherence to the global travel rules set out by the ICAO These passports guarantee increased security and convenience of travel abroad, bringing India into line with international standards and increasing its residents' opportunities for global mobility. Police verification of e-passport Usually, a police verification procedure is necessary. This procedure now only takes 5–7 days in many places because of the mPassport Police App. Quicker delivery and verification With the mPassport Police App now available in 25 states and union territories, police checks can be completed in 5–7 days, greatly reducing verification time. People with urgent travel needs will profit from this change, which speeds up passport processing.
Hindustan Times
25-06-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Haryana to modernise registration offices on lines of Passport Seva Kendras
Chandigarh, The Haryana government will revamp all registration offices, modelling them after Passport Seva Kendras to strengthen service delivery and boost transparency, a senior official said on Wednesday. Haryana to modernise registration offices on lines of Passport Seva Kendras Financial Commissioner of the Revenue and Disaster Management Department, Sumita Misra, said the initiative underscores Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini's commitment to simplify property transactions for citizens. She said the initiative will be rolled out in a phased manner, starting with high-density and high-transaction districts such as Panchkula, Gurugram, and Faridabad. She said the transformation is not limited to infrastructure improvements but is part of a broader plan to strengthen service delivery, boost transparency, and increase accountability within the revenue administration. Misra said this new model will include citizen-centric features such as online slot booking, well-equipped waiting areas, real-time digital display systems, and dedicated helpdesks. Signage and information will be made available in local languages to further assist citizens. To address persistent issues of slow server response during registration activities, particularly at sub-divisional and tehsil levels, Misra directed the establishment of two state-level Revenue Data Centres. She directed officers to float tenders for the same within the next 10 days. While reviewing the Haryana Large Scale Mapping Project, Misra instructed officers to complete the 'Tatima' updation across all districts by the end of August, stressing that this exercise is crucial for accurate land demarcation and for facilitating faster and dispute-free registrations. The Tatima Updation Project focuses on the detailed sketching and mapping of land parcels, which is a crucial step toward achieving transparent and accurate land records. These steps are part of the state's broader vision to promote digital governance, improve citizen services, and ensure a corruption-free and transparent property registration system, Misra said. She apprised that till date, 418 out of 440 pilot villages across 22 districts have successfully completed their Tatima updation. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Time of India
20-06-2025
- Time of India
Passport Seva portal down: Services across India disrupted as applicants face long delays
The Passport Seva Portal experienced widespread server issues on Thursday and Friday, disrupting operations at Passport Seva Kendras (PSKs) across India. Multiple users in cities such as Delhi, Bhopal, and Thane took to X to report last-minute appointment cancellations and long delays. Many people across major cities reported reaching PSKs only to find the centres non-functional. '@passportsevamea the website/app isn't working... we know that you don't want to travel seeing the conditions around but still I want to renew my passport so kindly make your WEBSITE WORK.. Thanks," X user Abhishek Rathore posted on the social media website. — rathore_tweets (@rathore_tweets) Also Read: India will roll out smarter passports with these changes in 2025 (Join our ETNRI WhatsApp channel for all the latest updates) "@passportsevamea Message received "Dear Applicant, your appointment for PSK/POPSK has been suspended due to Technical issue. Request you to reschedule appointment as per your convenience. -PassportSP". Is the passport office going to pay me a penalty for this instance?," X user Darshil said, expressing his frustration. Live Events — Darshil16061712 (@Darshil16061712) X users also claimed there were no dates available for rescheduling in the next few weeks, instead the next available date being months later. "Had an appointment for passport 2morrow morning for my kids and 2nd time in 2 months they asked to reschedule the appointment due to technical issues @passportsevamea. At 12.00 am we received the msg and they want people to stay here.. Their app too is not working," Mehul Kothari, an applicant, posted on X. — MehulKothari3 (@MehulKothari3) Also Read: You can now add spouse's name in passports without marriage certificate Last minute cancellations also caused confusion and further distress for applicants with upcoming travel plans. Rahul Sharma, who had applied for his son's passport before a planned trip to the US next year, said, 'The last-minute cancellation of my passport appointment is putting our trip to the US next year in serious trouble. I had applied for my son's passport so we could all attend my daughter's graduation, but without it I can't even begin the visa process. With long US visa wait times, the delays make it very difficult to plan anything.' In many cases, applicants got the information about the server outage only once they reached the PSK. "The passport seva kendra pasted a notice due to a technical issue unable to process a request. No SMS, email or ph call regarding this to applicant ...even people came to reach only after seva kendra. Gate is locked & no one is available," X user Vidya Nand Rai shared the notice posted in the Ghaziabad centre. — vidyaamp (@vidyaamp) The repeated outages left applicants facing uncertainty, especially those with time-sensitive travel plans. Parents, business travellers, and others awaiting passports raised complaints about wasted time and mounting travel disruptions. Despite the widespread outage, neither the Ministry of External Affairs nor the official @passportsevamea account on X has issued a public statement on the issue as of Friday morning. This is not the first disruption of its kind. A similar server issue occurred in April, which forced PSKs across the country to suspend services for two days, triggering delays and last-minute cancellations. Also Read: What are the documents required for an Indian passport?
