Chip-enabled E-passports for Indian citizens are coming up soon!

When the world is going hi-tech, why should something as important as passports be left old-school? Taking this into account, the Government of India will soon come up with advanced security features in passports, as told by Mr S Jaishankar, External Affairs Minister, to the press on the occasion of Passport Seva Diwas.
According to the news reports, the Ministry of External Affairs has proposed to develop e-passports as soon as possible. The move would help the concerned authorities to make a new passport booklet with modern security features in the coming future.


The minister also told the press that both the Ministry of External Affairs and the Ministry of Communications are involved in finishing due formalities for faster inauguration of Passport Seva Kendra (POPSK) in every Lok Sabha Constituency. More locations will also be declared in future for establishing POPSK.
The software for the chip-based passport has been made by IIT-Kanpur and the National Informatics Centre (NIC). The passport will feature good quality of paper and it will be enabled with advanced security features. Another plus is the fact that the e-passport can be read in just a few seconds. In addition, it will have thicker front and back covers.

As of now, there are 505 Passport Seva Kendras today. This development has enabled every person to apply for a passport at the centre near their home rather than visiting another city to get the work done.