E-passports with enhanced security features such as bio-metric details will be launched in 2017, eight years after the initiative was announced.The Narendra Modi government, while recently relaxing rules for getting passports, plans to put in place stringent norms to prevent misuse of the future documents.The ministry of external affairs will roll out chip-embedded e-passports, which can be incorporated with passports ensuring the information can be verified electronically, persons familiar with the developments told ET.The e-passport is likely to secure the data and curb the menace of fake passports. The e-passport will contain an electronic chip, which will hold information regarding the holder that is printed on the original passport's data passport's data page. These chips will help immigration of ficials to detect fraud and misuse of passports with ease.MoS external affairs VK Singh said: “The government has given its approval for procurement of electronic contactless inlays for manufacturing of e-passports to India Security Press (ISP) Nasik. In this regard, ISP Nasik has been authorised to float a global three-stage tender for procurement of International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO)-compliant electronic contactless inlays along with its OS, which is required for manufacture of e-passports.“