India will quickly embark on the second section of the Passport Seva Programme (PSP-Model 2.0), which incorporates new and upgraded e-passports, Exterior Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar stated on Saturday.
In a message on Passport Seva Divas, he stated: “It’s a matter of enjoyment for me to felicitate all our Passport Issuing Authorities in India and overseas and our colleagues from the Central Passport Organisation on the event of Passport Seva Divas 2023. This present day, when the Passports Act got here into power in 1967, can also be an event to take inventory of what has been achieved and to reaffirm our resolve to try for attaining the best requirements in supply of passport companies.”
Jaishankar stated that submit Covid-19 pandemic, he was “glad that the Ministry rose to satisfy the problem of surge in demand for passport associated companies by rising the variety of day by day appointments and organising Particular Drives over the weekends and processed a file 13.32 million passports and miscellaneous companies in 2022, marking a rise of 63 per cent from the yr 2021.”
“We’ll quickly be embarking on Passport Seva Programme (PSP) Model 2.0, together with new and upgraded e-passports. In step with the Prime Minister`s imaginative and prescient of enhancing the Ease of Dwelling` for residents, these initiatives will usher in a brand new paradigm of `ease`.”
He stated that this `ease` stands for `E`: Enhanced passport companies to residents, utilizing a digital eco-system, `A`: Synthetic Intelligence-powered service supply, `S`: Smoother abroad journey utilizing chip-enabled e-passports, and `E`: Enhanced information safety.
Jaishankar additionally stated that PSP has considerably contributed in the direction of the federal government`s objective of a `Digital India`, with milestones resembling mPassport Seva Cellular App, mPassport Police App, integration of PSP with DigiLocker, and the `apply from wherever` scheme.
He stated that in 2014, there have been 77 Passport Seva Kendras (PSKs) within the nation, whereas this quantity has elevated 7-fold and stands at 523 right this moment. “Within the context of POPSKS, I wish to acknowledge the position of Division of Posts and state police authorities as esteemed companions,” Jaishankar stated.
Noting that he has been visiting PSKs in a number of states, he stated: “Comparable visits had been additionally undertaken by my ministerial colleagues and senior officers of Ministry. These visits have enabled us to construct a congruence between the degrees of coverage and operational governance. There will likely be no slowing down of such efforts in future as nicely.”
He additionally known as on all passport issuing authorities in India and overseas to affix in renewing the pledge to offer passport and associated companies to residents in a well timed, dependable, accessible, clear, and environment friendly method.
