On the occasion of the 13th Passport Seva Divas, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Tuesday appreciated the efforts of passport officers in India and abroad. He announced the launch of the next phase of the Passport Seva Programme (PSP) and the rollout of e-passport services across the country. Extending his greetings to passport officers, he wrote, “Your commendable efforts guided by the principles of service, good governance, and welfare of the poor have helped simplify travel, deepen access to the global workplace, and empower citizens. With the launch of Passport Seva Programme 2.0 and e-passports, the Ministry of External Affairs reaffirms its commitment to enhancing the timeliness, transparency, and accessibility of passport services.”
‘Service, Good Governance, and Welfare of the Poor’
In a post on X, Jaishankar highlighted the transformation in passport services under the pillars of “Service, Good Governance, and Welfare of the Poor.” He called these pillars central to achieving the vision of a developed India. “Service, good governance, and welfare of the poor are the three key pillars of governance that will lead us toward a developed India. All these values are clearly reflected in our Passport Seva Programme,” he said.
Transformation in Passport Services Over the Last Decade
Jaishankar noted the remarkable improvements in passport services over the past decade, with passport issuances rising from 91 lakh in 2014 to 1.46 crore in 2024. He shared that Passport Seva Programme Version 2.0 has already been launched nationwide, incorporating advanced emerging technologies to improve efficiency and transparency.
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PSP V2.0 Rolled Out Nationwide
He added, “In line with the Government of India’s commitment to the next level of citizen-centric services, I am happy to share that PSP V2.0 has been launched across the country.” He also informed that a pilot of Global PSP V2.0 is currently underway and will be gradually implemented in all Indian embassies and consulates.
E-Passport: A Major Milestone
Jaishankar called the e-passport initiative a significant milestone. It uses contactless chip-based data reading technology to facilitate smoother travel and quicker immigration clearance. He also mentioned the launch of the mPassport Police App, which has helped reduce police verification time to 5–7 days in 25 states and union territories.
10 New POPSKs Opened
The minister shared that 10 new Post Office Passport Seva Kendras (POPSKs) were opened last year, including the 450th POPSK in Kushinagar, which is set to open in April 2025. He added, “Through our mobile van services, we’ve reached some of the remotest areas of the country, making passport services more accessible for citizens living in distant regions.”