India Launches Passport Seva 2.0 and Nationwide E‑Passports
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar marked the 13th Passport Seva Divas with a transformative announcement: the nationwide rollout of Passport Seva Programme Version 2.0 (PSP 2.0) and the introduction of e‑Passports. These initiatives promise to enhance passport issuance efficiency, strengthen travel security, and expand access—particularly in remote and underserved areas.
Passport Seva Programme 2.0 Rolled Out Nationwide
Over a decade, annual passport issuance in India surged from 91 lakh in 2014 to 1.46 crore in 2024, a testament to service enhancements and improved accessibility. PSP 2.0 ushers in advanced technologies—including automation, digitized workflows, and improved user interfaces—to streamline application, verification, and issuance processes. At its core, the upgrade aims to enhance transparency, minimize wait times, and promote user-centric delivery across all passport centres.
The revamped system is already being piloted overseas under the Global PSP 2.0 programme in Indian missions abroad, indicating that advanced services for the diaspora are just around the corner.
E‑Passports: Faster, Secure, Chip‑Enabled Travel
The introduction of e‑Passports represents a major leap into modern travel documentation. These biometric passports embed a contactless chip that securely stores personal and biometric data—such as photographs, fingerprints, and iris patterns. This aligns India with over 120 countries using ICAO-compliant e‑passports and supports features like automated immigration gates and enhanced border security protocols.
e‑Passports were first rolled out in 13 cities—including Delhi, Chennai, and Amritsar—before being adopted nationwide. Despite the advanced chip technology, application procedures remain unchanged: applicants continue to use the Passport Seva portal and visit PSKs or POPSKs for identity and biometric capture.
mPassport Police App Slashes Verification Time
A significant innovation under PSP 2.0 is the mPassport Police App, which has reduced police verification time to just 5–7 days in 25 states and union territories. This digital tool allows for real-time status updates and removes manual delays, greatly speeding up passport issuance.
Expanded Access Through POPSKs and Mobile Vans
To improve rural and remote access, ten new Post Office Passport Seva Kendras (POPSKs) were launched in the past year; Kushinagar now hosts the milestone 450th POPSK. Additionally, mobile passport vans have brought services to far-flung regions, empowering citizens—including migrant workers—to access global job markets with ease.
Governance Pillars and Capacity Building
Jaishankar tied these advancements to broader governance themes: Seva (service), Sushasan (good governance), and Garib Kalyan (welfare of the poor). These programs received high praise during a three-day Regional Passport Officers’ Conference, which addressed training, capacity building, grievance redressal, and implementation of PSP 2.0 and mPassport integration.
