File photo for representation

NEW DELHI: Your next passport could be a chip-enabled e-passport with advanced security features. This was announced by external affairs minister S Jaishankar today, in his first address as foreign minister.

Jaishankar was giving out awards for exemplary passport services to a variety of service providers from the state to individual level at the seventh Passport Seva Divas .

The MEA, he said, had "initiated discussions with the India Security Press regarding the project for issue of chip enabled e-passports to the citizens. We propose to pursue the manufacture of e-passports on priority so that a new passport booklet with advanced security features can be rolled out in the near future."

Promising that MEA and the department of posts would have a Passport Seva Kendra in every Lok Sabha constituency, Jaishankar said MEA is currently issuing one crore passports a year. "Both our ministries (MEA and Ministry of Communications) are completing the necessary formalities for early inauguration of the POPSK already announced. We would also be announcing more locations for setting-up POPSK after completing the feasibility studies," he said.

"Together with the 93 Passport Seva Kendras which are already functional, this has taken the total number of PSKs in the country to 505 today. The common man of the country now has a Passport Seva Kendra near his or her residence and is not required to travel too far to submit the passport application," he said. Last year, he said, MEA had launched the m-passport seva mobile app and "passport from anywhere" scheme, as well as making it easier for children of divorced parents to get passports. "Those applying for a passport under the 'Tatkaal' Scheme are no longer required to submit a Verification Certificate from a Gazetted Officer."

Jaishankar also gave awards at the function to the best performing passport offices. Jalandar Passport Office won, followed by Cochin Passport Office and Coimbatore Passport Office at second and third position respectively. He made a special mention of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Kerala where police verifications for passports have been brought down to 19 days.

Globally, he said, 25 Indian missions and posts issuing passports had been integrated since October 2018.

The MEA's new slogan for passports, Jaishankar said, is: "Passport - Sudhaar, Vistaar aur Aap ke Dwar ".

