opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 4100 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-18
Subject: Compulsory Military Training
Ministry: DEFENCE
Asked by: Talari Rangaiah

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

## DEPARTMENT OF MILITARY AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.4100

TO BE ANSWERED ON 18 th  March, 2020

## COMPULSORY MILITARY TRAINING

## 4100. SHRI TALARI RANGAIAH:

Will the Minister of DEFENCE j{kk ea=h be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is planning to make military training compulsory for the University students keeping in mind the requirement of defence personnel in future; and
- (b) if so, the details thereof?

## A    N    S    W    E    R

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

(SHRI SHRIPAD NAIK)

रक्षा राज्य मंत्री

( श्री श्रीपाद नाईक )

- (a)  No, Sir. There is no such proposal at present.
- (b)  Does not arise in view of (a) above.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 4099 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-18
Subject: Redevelopment Programme
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Anubhav Mohanty

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4099 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.03.2020

## REDEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME

4099.  SHRI ANUBHAV MOHANTY:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government has started any programme for the redevelopment of the railway stations in the country;
- (b)  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  number  of  railway  stations that have been covered so far under the redevelopment programme; and
- (c)  the  time  by  when  the  Government proposes to complete the redevelopment programme?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS AND COMMERCE & INDUSTRY

(SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

(a) to (c): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

*****

STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (c)  OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4099 BY SHRI ANUBHAV MOHANTY TO BE REGARDING

ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 18.03.2020 REDEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME (a)  and  (b):  Yes,  Sir.    It  is  Railways'  endeavour  to  redevelop  Railway stations by leveraging real estate potential of sparable railway land and air space in and around the station. For this, Railway conducts technoeconomic feasibility studies of stations across the country.  Based on the  outcome  of  these  feasibility  studies,  stations  are  taken  up  for redevelopment in phases. The  work  of  redevelopment  is  in  progress  at  Gandhinagar  and Habibganj railway stations. Contracts have been awarded for redevelopment of Gomtinagar, Anand Vihar, Bijwasan  and Chandigarh railway stations. (c): Station redevelopment program, at this scale, is first of its kind and complex  in  nature  and  requires  detailed  techno-financial  feasibility studies and various statutory clearances from Urban / local bodies etc. Therefore, no time-frame can be indicated at this stage.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 4098 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-18
Subject: Centre of Excellence
Ministry: ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Sanganna Amarappa Karadi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.  4098

TO BE ANSWERED ON: 18.03.2020

## CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE

## 4098.     SHRI SANGANNA AMARAPPA:

Will the Minister of ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether the Government is planning to set up a Centre of Excellence in the rural areas and  aspirational  districts  to  educate  the  people,  especially  in  Koppal  district  of Karnataka;
- (b)  if so, the details thereof and the time by which it is likely to be set up; and
- (c)  whether the Government proposes to provide any financial help to individuals willing to open such centre of excellence and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE FOR ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI SANJAY DHOTRE)

- (a):  Currently, there is no proposal under consideration of Government of India to set up Centre of Excellence in the rural areas and aspirational districts to educate the people.
- (b) and (c):   Do not arise.

*******
Lok Sabha Question No. 4097 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-18
Subject: Share of Atomic Energy
Ministry: ATOMIC ENERGY
Asked by: Nishikant  Dubey

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

DEPARTMENT OF ATOMIC ENERGY LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.4097

TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.03.2020

## SHARE OF ATOMIC ENERGY

4097.  DR. NISHIKANT DUBEY:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

the share of atomic energy in total power generation in India at present;

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER  OF  STATE  FOR  PERSONNEL,  PUBLIC  GRIEVANCES  & PENSIONS AND PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE (DR.JITENDRA SINGH):

Sir, the present share of nuclear energy in the country is about 3.36% in the current financial year 2019-20 (April 2019 - January 2020).

- *****
Lok Sabha Question No. 4096 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-18
Subject: Dynamic Pricing
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Vijay Kumar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4096 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.03.2020

## DYNAMIC PRICING

†4096. SHRI VIJAY KUMAR:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  the  details  of  the  monthly  increase  in  terms  of  percentage  in revenue  of  Railways  so  far  after  implementing  the  dynamic  pricing based on demand of tickets similar to the air ticket bookings;
- (b)  the details of provision under which the Railways has been included in commercial sector organisation while it has always been considered as a social service of the Union Government; and
- (c)  the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

## MINISTER OF RAILWAYS AND COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (

(a) to (c): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

*****

STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (c)  OF UNSTARRED  QUESTION  NO.  4096  BY  SHRI  VIJAY  KUMAR  TO  BE ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  18.03.2020  REGARDING  DYNAMIC PRICING

(a):  The  dynamic/variable  fare  schemes  available  in  regular  train services over Indian Railways are as under:

1. Flexi Fare scheme in certain Rajdhani, Shatabdi and Duronto trains.
2. Premium Tatkal Quota on dynamic pricing.

Month wise percentage increase in the earnings due to introduction of dynamic/variable fare is not maintained separately. However, the total additional earning generated due to the introduction of dynamic/variable  fare  since  the  date  of  implementation  up  to  March 2019 is ₹ 4140 crore.

(b) and (c): Passenger fare in most of the classes is very low. Passenger segment over IR has suffered continuous losses however no substantial increase  in  passenger  fare  has  taken  place  for  last  so  many  years. There is a continuous requirement of augmentation of trains, extension of trains, introduction of new  trains, modernisation of stations, improvement  of  standard  of  coaches  with  more  comfort,  provide modernised  facilities,  ensure  cleanliness  etc.  Apart  from  this  as  a social  welfare  measure  Railways  are  providing  concession  in  the passenger  fare  to  more  than  50  categories  of  passengers  i.e  Four categories of Divyang passengers, Patients, War widows, Senior Citizens,  Students,  sports  persons  etc.  Revenue  foregone  due  to concession being given to different categories of passengers for 201819  is  approximately ₹ 1995  crore.  In  order  to  recover  the  losses  and provide passengers better travelling experience, dynamic/variable fare scheme has been introduced in limited number of popular trains. Also, alternative accommodations for general passengers on normal fare are already available.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 4095 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-18
Subject: Bullet Train
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Dayanidhi Maran

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4095 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.03.2020

## BULLET TRAIN

## 4095. SHRI DAYANIDHI MARAN:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be please to state :

- (a) the status of bullet train projects in action and planned, across India;
- (b) the reasons for delay in implementation of these projects;
- (c) the cost incurred so far and the details thereof;

(d) whether there is any proposal to implement Bullet train project in

South India connecting Chennai; and

(e) if so, the details thereof ?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF RAILWAYS AND COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

(a) to (e): At present, Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail corridor is the only High Speed Rail Project which has been sanctioned by the Government  and  it  is  being  implemented  with  the  technical  &  financial assistance from Government of Japan. The Project is being executed by the  Special  Project  Vehicle  (SPV)  namely  'National  High  Speed  Rail Corporation Limited' (NHSRCL). Approx. ₹ 7065 crore has been spent on this project by the end of February 2020, mostly on land acquisition and utilities shifting. Further, the completion of a railway project is dependent on many factors such as land acquisition by State Government, shifting of utilities, conducive law and order situation, statutory clearances, encountering  unforeseen  circumstances,  litigation  in  courts,  climatic conditions etc.

Ministry of Railways has also decided to undertake Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the following six High Speed Rail (HSR) corridors:

- (i)
- Delhi -Varanasi
- (ii) Delhi - Ahmedabad
- (iii) Mumbai- Nagpur
- (iv) Mumbai - Hyderabad
- (v)
- Chennai - Mysore
- (vi)
- Delhi -Amritsar.

The  work  of  DPR  preparation  has  been  entrusted  to  National  High

Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) and the same is in progress.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 4094 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-18
Subject: Pressure to Open up Domestic Market
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: Rajiv Ranjan (Lalan) Singh, Kaushalendra Kumar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4094 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18 th MARCH, 2020 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18

## PRESSURE TO OPEN UP DOMESTIC MARKET

## 4094. SHRI RAJIV RANJAN SINGH ALIAS LALAN SINGH: SHRI KAUSHALENDRA KUMAR

Will the Minister of COMMERCE & INDUSTRY ( वािण�य एवं उ�ोग मं�ी ) be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is facing constant threat of tariff imposition  and pressure from many countries to open up domestic market;
- (b) whether foreign powers are constantly interfering in our internal business matters;
- (c) if  so,  whether the Government is taking necessary steps to protect the interests of the country; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## okf.kT; ,oa m|ksx ea=h ( Jh ih;w'k xks;y ) THE MINISTER OF  COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY

## (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

- (a) to (d):  No  Sir.    The  government's  trade  policy  is  framed  based  on  its  public  policy imperatives  including  safeguarding  the  interests  of  its  domestic  industry.  However,  during bilateral  discussions,  the  issue  of  tariffs  and  non  tariff  barriers  are  also  raised by  trading partners. Some of the measures taken for protecting the trade interests of the country are the recourse  to  trade  remedial  measures  such  as  anti-dumping,  safeguards  and  countervailing, monitoring the implementation of trade agreements, formulation of standards and technical regulations for ensuring appropriate quality of imports, integrated development of the logistics sectors and schemes and policies to facilitate trade such as Agriculture Export Policy, Trade Infrastructure for Export Scheme (TIES) and Transport and Marketing Assistance (TMA).

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 4093 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-18
Subject: Changes in Railway Time Table
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Jadon Chandra Sen

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK  SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4093 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.03.2020

## CHANGES IN RAILWAY TIME TABLE

† 4093.  DR. CHANDRA SEN JADON:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  changes  are  made  in  Railways'  Time  Table  for halting of trains in all States from time to time;
- (b) if so, whether the Government proposes to provide stoppage to  some  new  trains  at  all  the  railway  stations  in  district Faizabad of Uttar Pradesh;
- (c) if so, the details of such trains; and
- (d)  the  station-wise  details  of  the  trains  likely  to  be  given stoppage?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF RAILWAYS AND COMMERCE & INDUSTRY

## (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

- (a)  to  (d)  At  present,  there  is  no  proposal  for  provision  of additional stoppages of  trains at stations located in the district of  Faizabad.  However,  provision  of  stoppage  of  trains  is  an ongoing  process  on  Indian  Railways  subject  to  operational feasibility, commercial justification, etc. Provision of additional stoppages enroute may, at times, entail slight change(s) in the time table. Besides, Indian Railways, for dissemination of information  to  traveling  passengers,  indicates  the  Time  Table changes in the Public Time Tables published every year.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 4092 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-18
Subject: Rail Coach Factory
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Ashok Kumar Rawat

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.4092 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.03.2020

## RAIL COACH FACTORY

†4092.  SHRI ASHOK KUMAR RAWAT:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government proposes to take any steps to set up a rail coach factory, locomotive factory or diesel multiple unit factory in Hardoi or Sitapur districts in the State of Uttar Pradesh;

(b) if so, the details thereof; and

(c) if not, the reasons therefor?

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS AND COMMERCE & INDUSTRY

ANSWER (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

(a)

& (b) No, Sir.

(c)  Rail  Coach/  Locomotive or Diesel Multiple Unit factories are set up keeping in view the Railways' overall requirement of rolling stock.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 4091 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-18
Subject: Construction of RoBs
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Mukesh Rajput

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.4091 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.03.2020

## CONSTRUCTION OF ROBs

## †4091. SHRI MUKESH RAJPUT:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) the number of suggestions/proposals received for construction of Railway  Over  Bridges  (RoBs)  in  Uttar  Pradesh  during  the  last three years;
- (b) the  number  of  railway  crossings  where  sanction  has  been granted for the construction of the said ROBs;
- (c) the  present  status  of  sanction  for  the  construction  of  a  Joint Railway Over Bridge at Kanpur-Kashganj railway crossing No.154 in Farrukhabad and at Farrukhabad-Neemkarori railway crossings number 9C along with a Rail Over Bridge at rail crossing number 182 on Kanpur-Kashganj section; and
- (d) the details thereof?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF RAILWAYS AND COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

- (a)  and  (b):  Proposals  for  construction  of  Road  Over  Bridges/Road Under  Bridges  (ROBs/RUBs)  in  lieu  of  level  crossings  are  normally received from State Government.  After completing various formalities regarding  the  consents  for  sharing  of  cost  and  closure  of  level crossings  from  State  Government,  the    proposals    are    further processed  for  their  inclusion  in

Railway  Works  Programme.  During  the  last  three  years  i.e.  2016-17, 201718 & 2018-19, 61 valid proposals have been received in Uttar Pradesh. All  proposals  were  cleared  during  this  period  and  no  such  valid proposals are pending for clearance. (c) and (d): Construction of ROB in lieu of Level Crossing (LC) No. 154 between  Fatehgarh  and  Farrukhabad  and  ROB  in  lieu  of  LC  No.  182 between Kaimganj and Rudain stations has been sanctioned. Railway has requested State Government to expedite the consent for sharing of cost and closure of LC. Further action will be taken after receipt of consent from State Government. LC No. 9C between Farrukhabad-Neemkarori on Farrukhabad-Manpuri section does not qualify for construction of ROB on cost sharing basis, as traffic density at this LC is less than one Lakh. *****
Lok Sabha Question No. 4089 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-18
Subject: Consulate of GCC
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Rajmohan Unnithan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.4089 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.03.2020

## CONSULATE OF GCC

## 4089. SHRI RAJMOHAN UNNITHAN:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government of India has any plan to open the consulates of the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries in Kerala; and
- (b) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFAIRS [SHRI V. MURALEEDHARAN]

- (a) & (b) The Ministry is not in receipt of any proposal for the establishment of Consulate in Kerala by any of the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries.

***
Lok Sabha Question No. 4088 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-18
Subject: RoB at Begum Bazar
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Keshari Devi Patel

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.4088 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.03.2020

## ROB AT BEGUM BAZAR

## †4088. SHRIMATI KESHARI DEVI PATEL:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) the  time  by  which  the  construction  work  of  half  built  Begum  Bazar bridge in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh will be completed;
- (b) the  reasons  for  not  completing  the  construction  despite  spending  75 per cent of its cost;
- (c) whether the construction work has been halted owing to lack of mutual coordination; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF RAILWAYS AND COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

(a)  to  (c):  Bridge  work  of  railway  portion  is  being  done  by  railway  and approaches by State Government of Uttar Pradesh. Work of railway portion as well as approaches is in progress. Work is held up in certain portion (both railway  and  approach  portion)  for  want  of  No  Objection  Certificate  (NOC) from Air Force Authority. Further action will be taken after receipt of NOC.

(d):  State  Government  is  trying  to  resolve  the  issue  with  Air  Force authority but till date the issue has not been resolved.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 4087 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-18
Subject: FDI in Railways
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Bhartruhari Mahtab

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4087 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.03.2020

## FDI IN RAILWAYS

## 4087. SHRI BHARTRUHARI MAHTAB:

## Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be please to state :

- (a) the areas in Railways specified by the Government for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) along with the total FDI in such areas so far;
- (b)  the  extent  to  which  the  FDI  in  Railways  is  likely  to  help  the
- Government to achieve its goal of railway safety in the country;
- (c)  whether  the  Government  has  received  representations  from  various
- Railway Unions against allowing FDI in Railways;
- (d)  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  reasons  therefor  along  with  the action taken by the Government on such representations so far; and
- (e)  the  other  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  address  the  issues  of railway employees and to protect their rights in the country?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF RAILWAYS AND COMMERCE & INDUSTRY

## (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

(a):  Till  22nd  August,  2014,  Foreign  Direct  Investment  (FDI)  in  Railway Sector was restricted only to 'Mass Rapid Transport System'. However, FDI has now been opened up/permitted in the following activities/areas of Railway Infrastructure  (100%  on  automatic  route)  under  the  extant  FDI Policy of Government since 22 August, 2014 :-

'Construction, Operation and Maintenance of :-

- (i) Suburban corridors projects through PPP;
- (ii) High Speed Train Projects;

- (iii)  Dedicated Freight Lines;
- (iv) Rolling  Stock  including  train  sets  and  locomotives/coaches manufacturing  and maintenance facilities;
- (v) Railway Electrification;
- (vi)
- Signaling systems;
- (vii)  Freight terminals;
- (viii) Passenger terminals;
- (ix)  Infrastructure in industrial park  pertaining  to railway  line/ sidings including electrified railway lines and connectivities to main railway line;  and
- (x) Mass Rapid Transport Systems'

As  per  the  figure  compiled  by  Department  of  Promotion  of  Industry and  Internal  Trade  (DPIIT)  the  total  FDI  received  in  Railway  sector  till

December, 2019 is approx. 1071 million US dollars.

- (b):  Additional  capital  investment  including  from  FDI  for  augmentation modernisation  of  Railway's  infrastructure  helps  to  achieve  the  goal  of Railway safety.
- (c) to (e) : A few representations have been received from Railway Unions regarding FDI. It  has  been  clarified  that  there  are  inbuilt  safeguards  to protect interest of the existing employees of Railways.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 4085 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-18
Subject: Easier Travelling Abroad
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Sunil Kumar Pintu

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.4085 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.03.2020

## EASIER TRAVELLING ABROAD

## † 4085.     SHRI SUNIL KUMAR PINTU:

## Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) the initiatives being taken/proposed to be taken to make travelling abroad easier and safer; and
- (b) the steps taken/proposed to be taken so far to set up a passport office in Muzaffarpur, Bihar?

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

## [SHRI V. MURALEEDHARAN]

(a) The Ministry has eased the passport issuing process and has made it an online procedure including getting appointments for submission of documents for passports.   Effective   technical   infrastructure   is   in   place   to   ensure   that   the Passport Seva system is available for access at all times from any location. The Passport Portal (www.passportindia.gov.in) is accessible to anyone, anywhere and anytime. With a view to address the challenge of digital divide, especially in the rural hinterland, the Ministry in association with CSC e-Governance Services India Ltd. (which is promoted by the Department of Electronics and IT), has facilitated online   filing   of   passport   applications,   through   the   vast   network   of   Common Service Centres (CSCs) across rural hinterland.

In the year 2017, a decision was taken to open 'Post Office Passport Seva Kendras' (POPSK) in co-operation with the Department of Posts. 424 POPSKs are operational in the country as on 12 th  March, 2020.

An applicant can now apply for a passport from anywhere in India. But Police verification would be conducted by the Police Station in whose jurisdiction the address mentioned in the form falls and the passport will also be dispatched at the same address.

The mPassport Seva mobile app enables applicants to apply, pay and schedule appointments for passport services. This App is available in Android and iOS platforms. It also provides passport related information including location of   Passport   Seva   Kendras   (PSKs),   applicable   fees,   mode   of   submission,   and tracking of passport application status on smart phones. Citizens would not require access to a computer and printer to apply for passport services.

Securing online appointment for submission of passport applications at PSK/ POPSK has been simplified. The current 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.

(b) A Post Office Passport Seva Kendra (POPSK) is functional since 08.03.2017 at Muzaffarpur under the administrative jurisdiction of the   Passport Office in Patna.

***