India’s External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar, recently announced that the country will soon embark on the second phase of its Passport Seva Programme (PSP-Version 2.0), which will feature new and upgraded e-passports. Jaishankar also called on all passport-issuing authorities in India and abroad to renew their pledge to provide citizens with timely, reliable, accessible, transparent, and efficient passport and related services.
With PSP-Version 2.0, India aims to enhance the Ease of Living for citizens by delivering enhanced passport services, using a digital eco-system powered by artificial intelligence, and providing smoother overseas travel using chip-enabled e-passports while also prioritizing enhanced data security.
Jaishankar noted that the PSP has accomplished much in building a ‘Digital India.’ For instance, milestones such as the mPassport Police App, mPassport Seva Mobile App, PSP’s integration with DigiLocker, and the ‘apply from anywhere’ scheme have contributed significantly to the Indian government’s digitalization goal.
Efforts to address the surge in demand for passport-related services due to the Covid-19 pandemic were also mentioned, with the Ministry of External Affairs increasing the number of daily appointments and organizing special drives over weekends. These efforts contributed to the processing of a record 13.32 million passports and miscellaneous services in 2022, marking a 63% increase from 2021.
The success of PSP thus far can be attributed to the increase in Passport Seva Kendras (PSKs) across the country, which have grown seven-fold to 523 since 2014. Jaishankar also acknowledged the role of Department of Posts and state police authorities as esteemed partners in the context of POPSKS.
In conclusion, Jaishankar’s message on Passport Seva Kendra highlighted India’s commitment to achieving the highest standards of passport services delivery, even as it prepares to embark on the PSP-Version 2.0 journey shortly. His message also served as a felicitation to all passport-issuing authorities in India and abroad and their colleagues from the Central Passport Organization on the occasion of the Passport Seva Divas 2023.
