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QUESTION NO.3434 CHIP BASED E-PASSPORTS

March 25, 2021

RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3434
TO BE ANSWERED ON 25.03.2021.

CHIP BASED E-PASSPORTS

3434. SHRI SYED ZAFAR ISLAM:

Will the Minister of External Affairs be pleased to state:

(a) the details of the number of Passport Seva Kendras operational across the country including Uttar Pradesh;

(b) whether Government is planning to introduce chip based e-passports in place of paper passports within the country; and

(c) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor?

ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
(SHRI V. MURALEEDHARAN)

(a) The Ministry has expanded the outreach by opening of more Passport Seva Kendras. At present, 519 Passport Kendras are functional in the country which include 93 Passport Seva Kendra and 426 Post Office Passport Seva Kendra as extended arm of 36 Passport Offices. There are 54 Passport Kendras in Uttar Pradesh, including 6 PSKs and 48 POPSKs. The list of total Passport Kendra in India is placed at Annexure-IPDF file that opens in new window. To know how to open PDF file refer Help section located at bottom of the site..

(b) & (c) The Ministry will issue chip-enabled e-Passports with advanced security features to citizens. The personal particulars of the applicants would be digitally signed and stored in the chip which would be embedded in the passport booklet. In case, anyone tampers with the chip, the system shall be able to identify it, resulting in the failure of the passport authentication.

With a view to manufacture e-Passports, India Security Press, Nashik has awarded the contract for procurement of International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)-compliant electronic contactless inlays along with its operating system necessary for chip-enabled e-Passports. Issuance of e-Passports will commence on the successful completion of the procurement process by ISP, Nashik.

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