Lok Sabha Question No. 2319 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-30
Subject: Transparent Process for Passport
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: B.V. NAYAK

## 2319.

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2319 TO BE ANSWERED ON 30.11.2016

## TRANSPARENT PROCESS FOR PASSPORT

SHRI B.V.NAIK:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  taken  any  steps  for  making  the process  of  getting  passport  transparent  and  easy  and  if  so,  the details thereof;
- (b) whether  the  Government  is  also  trying  to  ensure  to  make  the passport issuing process foolproof so that no anti national element can misuse it and if so, the steps taken in this direction;
- (c) whether  a  racket  of  middlemen  involved  in  making  passports  on fake address has been allegedly exposed recently; and
- (d) if  so, the details thereof and the action taken against those found guilty?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS [GEN. (DR) V. K. SINGH (RETD)]

- (a) Yes.  With  the  implementation  of  the  Passport  Seva  Project,  the process  of  passport  issuance  has  become  very  transparent  and  easy. Under  this system,  the applicants are required to apply for their passports online,  upload  relevant  documents, make  the payment  online through  debit/credit  card  or  SBI  net-banking/SBI  Challan,  schedule  an appointment and then visit the designated Passport Seva Kendra (PSK). A user friendly portal has been made available. When an applicant visits the PSK,  an  Electronic  Queue  Management  System  (EQMS)  working  on  the principle of First-in First-out is available at all PSKs to monitor the flow of applicants.  After  completing  the  non-sovereign  activities by  the  staff  of the  Service  Provider,  applicants  move  to  the  Passport  Office  Staff  for verification of documents and granting of passports. The shortcoming(s), if  any,  in  the  documentation,  is  conveyed  to  the  applicant  there  itself. Exit letter giving position of the application ensuring fairness is provided to the applicant at the time of exit. The applicants can track the status of their  applications  themselves  through  portal  and  also  SMS  services.  In the current system of passport issuance, there is no manual intervention at  any  stage,  complete  process  is  digitally  flown  with  re-engineered process through a single visit clearance.
- 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. Securing online Appointments for submission of passport applications  at  PSKs  has  been  made  easier  and  convenient.  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. (b) The  process  of  issuance  of  passports  has  been  made  foolproof under the new system which is capable of leaving no scope for misuse by anti national elements. Before granting any passport, in-person appearance is mandatory avoiding chances of impersonation. Background check  is  carried  out  from  the  entire  Passport  database  for  duplication and criminality status. Capture of Biometric data and photograph on the spot and matching  of biometric data with  Aadhar  database (fully integrated  since  August  2015),  also  ensure  issuance  of  the  passport  to the right person. Police Verification of personal particulars and antecedents  of  applicants  including  address,  where  required,  is  very critical  to  issue  of  passports.  All  these  measures  and  precautions available  in  the  system  have  made  the  passport  issuance  process foolproof. (c) & (d) Very  few  cases  of  such  fake  passports  have  come  to  the notice of the Ministry. In one such case, through Writ Petition WP (C) No. 1699/2015  filed  as  PIL  before  the  Hon'ble  High  Court  of  Delhi,  the attention of the Ministry of External Affairs was drawn to the issuance of five passports by the Passport Office in Delhi with non-existent addresses on  the  basis  of  incorrect  police  verification  report.  The  passports  were revoked by the Passport Office in Delhi  in April  2016  following  the  due procedure. The involvement of any racket, however, has not been identified in

the recent past.

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