Lok Sabha Question No. 313 (STARRED), answered on 2021-03-17
Subject: PSKs in Assam
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Pradyut Bordoloi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.*313 TO BE ANSWERED ON 17.03.2021

## PSKS IN ASSAM

## *313.  SHRI PRADYUT BORDOLOI:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) the number of Passport Seva Kendras (PSKs) in Assam;
- (b) whether the Government has any proposal to open and operate more PSKs in Assam so as to facilitate the people in getting and renewing passports and other related services;
- (c) if so, the details thereof including the places where these PSKs are proposed to be opened/operated; and
- (d) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (DR. SUBRAHMANYAM JAISHANKAR)

- (a)  to (d) A statement is laid on the T able of the House.

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (A) TO (D) OF LOK SABHA   STARRED   QUESTION   NO.   *313   REGARDING   'PSKS   IN ASSAM' TO BE ANSWERED ON 17.03.2021

(a) One Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) and fifteen Post Office Passport Seva Kendras (POPSKs) are functioning in Assam. The list of PSK and POPSKs in Assam is placed at Annexure-I.

(b) to (d) The opening of Passport Seva Kendras in various States, including Assam is   an   on-going   activity   and   depends   on   various   factors,   including distance from the existing Passport Seva Kendras and volume of applications from a particular region. The Ministry in association with the Department of Posts decided in January 2017 to open Passport Kendras at the Head Post Offices (HPO)/ Post Offices (PO) in the country called 'POPSK' in every Lok Sabha Constituency, where there is no PSK to ensure that there is at least one PSK or a POPSK available in every Lok Sabha Constituency.

At present, Passport Office at Guwahati, a PSK at Guwahati and 15 POPSKs are functioning in Assam. Passport services are available in all the Lok Sabha Constituencies of the State of Assam. Currently, an average of 1050 appointments for passport services are being released every day for applicants in Assam, of which, only around 300 appointments are being availed of by applicants. As such, there is no additional demand for passport services, which necessitate the opening of new PSK in the State. However, the Ministry will consider adding new outlets, as and when demand increases.

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## Annexure-I to Lok Sabha Starred Question no.313

## List of functional Passport Kendras in Assam

| State   | Passport Office   | S.No.   | PSK      |   S.No. | POPSK           |
|---------|-------------------|---------|----------|---------|-----------------|
| Assam   | Guwahati          | 1       | Guwahati |       1 | Barpeta         |
|         |                   |         |          |       2 | Dhubri          |
|         |                   |         |          |       3 | Dibrugarh       |
|         |                   |         |          |       4 | Goalpara        |
|         |                   |         |          |       5 | Golaghat        |
|         |                   |         |          |       6 | Jorhat          |
|         |                   |         |          |       7 | Karbi Anglong   |
|         |                   |         |          |       8 | Karimganj       |
|         |                   |         |          |       9 | Kokrajhar       |
|         |                   |         |          |      10 | Mangaldoi       |
|         |                   |         |          |      11 | Nagaon          |
|         |                   |         |          |      12 | North Lakhimpur |
|         |                   |         |          |      13 | Silchar         |
|         |                   |         |          |      14 | Tezpur          |
|         |                   |         |          |      15 | Tinsukia        |

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