India to launch second PSP phase with new advanced e-passport: Jaishankar

New Delhi (IANS). Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar on Saturday said that India will soon launch the second phase of the Passport Seva Program (PSP-Version 2.0), which includes new and improved e-passports.
In a message on Passport Seva Diwas, he said, “It is my pleasure to felicitate all our Passport Issuing Authorities in India and abroad and our colleagues at the Central Passport Organization on the occasion of Passport Seva Divas 2023.” It is also an occasion to take stock of what was achieved when the Passports Act came into force in 1967 and to reaffirm our resolve to strive to achieve the highest standards in delivery of passport services.
Jaishankar said that he is happy that the Ministry has met the challenge of increasing demand for passport related services by increasing the number of daily appointments and conducting special drives on weekends and processed a record 13.32 million passports in 2022, following the COVID-19 pandemic. Miscellaneous Services shows a growth of 63 percent from the year 2021.
He said, we will soon launch Passport Seva Program (PSP) version 2.0 including new and improved e-passports. This initiative will mark the beginning of a new paradigm in line with the Prime Minister’s vision of making life easier for citizens.
He said that this Ease stands for E: Enhanced passport services for citizens using digital eco-system, A: Artificial intelligence-driven service delivery, S: Easier foreign travel using chip-enabled e-services. Passport, and e: Advanced Data Security.
Jaishankar also said that with milestones like mPassport Seva Mobile App, mPassport Police App, integration of PSP with DigiLocker and Apply from Anywhere scheme, PSPs have contributed significantly towards the Government’s Digital India goal.
He said that in 2014 there were 77 Passport Seva Kendras (PSKs) in the country, whereas today the number has increased 7 times to 523. Jaishankar said, in the context of POPSKS, I would like to acknowledge the role of Department of Posts and State Police authorities as respected partners.
Noting that he is visiting PSKs in several states, he said: Similar visits were also made by my cabinet colleagues and senior officials of the ministry. These visits have enabled us to create a synergy between the levels of policy and operational governance. There should be no dearth of such efforts in future also.
He also called upon all passport issuing authorities in India and abroad to join hands in renewing the pledge to provide passport and related services to citizens in a timely, reliable, accessible, transparent and efficient manner.
–IANS