Lok Sabha Question No. 2197 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-01
Subject: Operations of Central Passport Organisation
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Shri K Sudhakaran

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION No- 2197

## ANSWERED ON - 01/08/2025

## OPERATIONS OF CENTRAL PASSPORT ORGANISATION

## 2197. SHRI K SUDHAKARAN

Will the Minister of External Affairs be pleased to state:

(a) the number of passport applications approved during the last one year;

- (b) the details of passports issuing authority in the Central Passport Organization (CPO);
- (c)   whether   Regional   Passport   Officers   (RPOs)   are   designated   as Passport Issuing Authorities, if so, the details thereof including the number of applications that were approved by RPOs across the India from 2024 to April 2025 and if not, the reason therefor;
- (d) whether the non-gazetted employees in the CPO can approve or verify passport applications, if so, the details thereof including their

designation/job, roles including Rajbhasha and stenographic service and the pay level; and

(e) the details of the transfer policy that exist for CPO officials and the criteria for transferring officers between head stations?

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

## (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)

- (a)  Number of  passports granted in the year 2024 is 1,46,53,633. This includes 1,30,76,427 in India and 15,77,206 in Indian Missions and Posts abroad.
- (b)   In   terms   of   the   Schedule   I   of   the   Passports   Rules   1980,   Passport Officer,   Deputy   Passport   Officer,   Assistant   Passport   Officer,   Senior Superintendent  and   Superintendent   are   mentioned   as   Passport   Issuing Authorities.
- (c) Yes. There are 37 Regional Passport Officers/ Passport Officers across the country. Total number of passports issued by Regional Passport Offices across the country, during the period from 01.01.2024 till 30.04.2025 is 1,71,02,492.

(d)   Non-Gazetted   employees   of   the   Central   Passport   Organisation   can verify   the   passport   applications.   In   exercise   of   powers   vested   in   the Central Government by the Section 24 of the Passports Act 1967 read with Rule 3 of the Passport Rules 1980, Non-Gazetted employees of the Central Passport Organisation can also be assigned the work to grant/approve passports   in   public   interest.   In   addition   to   this,   these   Non-Gazetted employees handle other administrative  and  passport   related   functions. Details of  designation and pay level of  Non-Gazetted employees are as under:

I. Assistant Superintendent - Pay Level 6

II. Senior Passport Assistant - Pay Level 4

III. Junior Passport Assistant - Pay Level 2

IV. Senior Translation Officer - Pay Level 7

V. Junior Translation Officer - Pay Level 6

VI. Stenographer Grade I - Pay Level 6

VII. Stenographer Grade II - Pay Level 4

VIII. Office Assistant - Pay Level 1

(e)   Transfer   Policy   Guidelines   2018   issued   by   the   Ministry   of   External Affairs contain the guidelines for transfer of the employees of the Central Passport Organisation. As per the said guidelines, tenure of all officials is 36 months from the date of joining for all Passport Offices other than those

## in Jammu and Kashmir, and at Guwahati, where the tenure is 24 months from the date of joining.

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