Latest news with #e-Passports
Time of India
9 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Passport Seva 2.0, e-Passports: S Jaishankar makes big announcements; here's what you should know
File photo: EAM S Jaishankar (Picture credit: ANI) External affairs minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday announced the nationwide rollout of e-Passports and the Passport Seva Programme (PSP) Version 2.0, calling it a major step in enhancing citizen services and boosting India's global mobility framework. The announcement was made on the occasion of the 13th Passport Seva Divas. 'In line with the Government of India's commitment to deliver the next level of citizen-centric service, I am delighted to inform that we have rolled out PSP V2.0 across the country,' Jaishankar posted on X. He said the upgraded system leverages advanced technologies to ensure greater efficiency, transparency, and ease of access. The Minister highlighted that passport issuance has risen significantly from 91 lakh in 2014 to 1.46 crore in 2024, indicating a strong expansion in service delivery. He also announced that the pilot of Global PSP V2.0 is underway and will soon be introduced across Indian missions abroad. The launch of e-Passports was a key highlight, with Jaishankar stating that these contactless chip-based documents will allow faster and more secure immigration processing. 'The e-Passport initiative marks a significant shift in travel documentation,' he said. The minister also spoke about the introduction of the mPassport Police App, which has helped reduce the police verification process to just 5–7 days in 25 States and Union Territories. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The 15 Most Useless Cars To Ever Be Produced, Ranked In Order Daily Sport X Undo To further improve outreach, 10 new Post Office Passport Seva Kendras (POPSKs) were added in the past year, including the 450th POPSK in Kushinagar in April 2025. Jaishankar said mobile passport vans have expanded access to passport services in remote regions. These reforms, he noted, are aligned with the broader goals of Seva (service), Sushasan (good governance), and Garib Kalyan (welfare of the poor) — all crucial to building a Viksit Bharat (developed India). 'I take this opportunity to congratulate everyone at Passport Offices, Passport Seva Kendras, Post Office Passport Seva Kendras, and all partners of the Passport Seva Programme, including the Department of Posts, India Security Press, State Police, and service providers,' Jaishankar added. Minister of state for external affairs Pabitra Margherita also attended the Passport Seva Divas celebrations and praised the programme's inclusivity and innovations like rainwater harvesting and TRIFED outlets at passport offices. According to ANI, he reaffirmed MEA's commitment to timely and citizen-friendly passport services under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and EAM Jaishankar. The three-day Regional Passport Officers' Conference held alongside saw discussions on service innovation, grievance redressal, and capacity building to strengthen the passport delivery ecosystem. Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays and public holidays . AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Hindustan Times
13-05-2025
- Hindustan Times
e-Passports in India: Key features, benefits, and how to apply online
The government has rolled out Indian e-passports to make international travel smoother by allowing automated ID checks at immigration and cutting down wait times at airports. As part of a larger digital upgrade called Passport Seva Program (PSP) 2.0, the e-Passport was launched on April 1, 2024, in a pilot phase, according to ministry of external affairs. So far, passport offices in Nagpur, Bhubaneswar, Jammu, Goa, Shimla, Raipur, Amritsar, Jaipur, Chennai, Hyderabad, Surat, and Ranchi are equipped to issue the e-passports. In Tamil Nadu, e-Passports started being issued from March 3, 2025, at the Regional Passport Office in Chennai. As per ministry of external affairs, by March 22, more than 20,700 e-Passports had already been issued in the state. An e-passport is a regular passport with added digital features. It includes a small chip, known as an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) chip, and an antenna inside the cover. This chip stores personal and biometric information, such as fingerprints and facial details. A small gold symbol on the front cover marks it as an e-passport. The Government of India has introduced the e-passport to protect personal data and prevent duplication of passport records. Unlike traditional passports, the e-passport holds data both in printed form and in a secure smart chip. Immigration officers around the world can verify the chip to ensure the data is genuine. The data stored on the chip is protected using a system called Public Key Infrastructure (PKI). This ensures that sensitive personal and biometric information is kept safe from tampering or theft. The main goal is to protect against passport fraud. The RFID chip makes it harder to create fake or duplicate passports. It also makes it easier and faster to verify a traveler's identity at border checks, thus cutting down the wait time significantly. e-Passports are currently being issued at Passport Offices in 12 cities: Nagpur, Bhubaneswar, Jammu, Goa, Shimla, Raipur, Amritsar, Jaipur, Chennai, Hyderabad, Surat, and Ranchi. The government plans to expand this service to more locations soon. No. If you already have a valid passport, you do not need to get an e-passport right away. Your existing passport will stay valid until its expiry date. The e-passport is expected to make international travel safer and more efficient for Indian citizens. You can now apply for an e-Passport online and collect it from select Passport Seva Kendras (PSKs) or Regional Passport Offices (RPOs) in cities like Chennai, Nagpur, Hyderabad, Jaipur, and others. Once processed, your new e-Passport will be delivered to your registered address.
