India to Soon Have Microchip-Based e-Passports

In an ambitious project that will ensure quick services, the Ministry of External Affairs is working to introduce microchip-based e-passports for its citizens. The key features of the new system would include the use of biometrics and artificial intelligence in relaying passport services, in order to ensure smooth movement of citizens across all immigration posts in the world.

India has already issued about 20000 official and diplomatic e-passports, containing an electronic microprocessor chip embedded in them. In alliance with the Tata Consultancy Services, the government will introduce a cutting edge digital ecosystem through the second phase of the Passport Seva Programme.

In its first phase, TCS had digitalized many passport related processes under the Passport Seva Program. This also included setting up 93 Passport Seva Kendras, 428 post offices, 36 passport offices and integrating them with the Passport Seva system. In the new phase, the IT organization aims at developing new solutions to enable the issuance of e-passports.

According to Sanjay Bhattacharyya, secretary at the Ministry of External Affairs, the new passport services will also ensure quality services at Post office Passport Service Centers, new data centres, data personalization, coordination with the International Civil Aviation Organisation and a citizen first approach.

As of now, India issues passports for citizens in printed booklets and recently ranked 83 on the list of the most powerful passports in 2022, improving its ranking by 7 places.