Lok Sabha Question No. 1217 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-23
Subject: Requirements for Issue of Passports
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: KINJARAPU RAM MOHAN NAIDU

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1217 TO BE ANSWERED ON 23.11.2016

## REQUIREMENTS FOR ISSUE OF PASSPORTS

1217. SHRI RAM MOHAN NAIDU KINJARAPU:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to State:

- (a) whether the Government has recently changed the requirements  for  obtaining  a  passport  and  if  so,  the  details thereof and the reasons therefor;
- (b)     whether this move has been well received by the people and if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) whether  this  has  increased  the  number  of  applications  for issue of passport and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## [GEN. (DR) V. K. SINGH (RETD)]

(a) & (b) The Government has simplified the process of issuance of  passport  in  order  to  make  it  more  expedient,  convenient  and transparent. The  Ministry of  External  Affairs  made  two  major changes w.e.f. 26 January, 2016 that have expedited the process for first time passport applicants as well as made it more convenient to secure  an  online  appointment  at  the  local  Passport  Seva  Kendras (PSKs). As per these changes, the first time passport applicants who furnish Aadhaar Card, Electoral Photo Identity Card (EPIC), PAN Card and  an  affidavit  in  the  prescribed  format,  will  get  faster  service, without  payment  of  additional  fees,  subject  to  successful  online validation  of  Aadhaar,  EPIC  and  PAN  cards  from  the  respective databases.  The  passports  under  this  liberal  dispensation  will  be issued on Post-Police Verification basis.

The second measure pertains to securing online Appointments for submission of passport applications at PSKs. The new provision is  allowing  applicants  to  choose  any  appointment  date  from  the earliest five available dates (working days) for scheduling/rescheduling an appointment for passport related services. Earlier, the System used to offer only one available date to the applicant for seeking appointment for passport related services. These measures  have  simplified  the  process  of  passport  issuance and reduced the difficulties faced by the applicants.

The Ministry has also reviewed the policy regarding changing the date of birth (DOB) in the existing passport. As per the revised guidelines, the Passport Issuing Authorities (PIA) have been authorized  to  consider  the  explanation  of  each  applicant  seeking change  in  the  DOB  (irrespective  of  the  period  that  would  have lapsed after the issue of the passport) to find the genuineness of the claim  and  if  the  PIA  is  satisfied  with  the  claim  and  with  the document(s) submitted by the applicant in support of the claim, the PIA shall  accept  all  such  requests  made  by  the  applicant  to  issue the passport with revised DOB.

In  addition,  necessary  instructions  have  been  issued  to  the Passport  Issuing  Authorities  to  accept  digitally  signed  Marriage Certificates  and  Birth  Certificates  as  valid  proofs  of  marriage  and birth respectively.

(c) The  Ministry  received  86,99,690  passport  applications  in 2014, 1,03,01,358 in 2015  and  81,05,506  applications till 31st October 2016. Compared with the number of passport applications received  till  31 st   October  2015,  there  is  a  minor  decline  in  the number of  passport  applications  received  in  India  till  31 st   October 2016.

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