Latest news with #PSPV2.0
News18
7 hours ago
- News18
Passport Seva 2.0 Explained: What Is An E-Passport, How To Apply, What Are The Benefits?
Last Updated: The Government of India has officially launched the nationwide rollout of e-passports as part of the revamped Passport Seva Programme 2.0 Passport Seva 2.0: The Government of India has officially launched the nationwide rollout of e-passports as part of the revamped Passport Seva Programme (PSP) 2.0. The initiative, announced by External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar, aims to enhance passport services with high-end digital infrastructure, improve security, and enable faster immigration clearance. 'We have rolled out PSP V2.0 across the country, leveraging advanced and high-end technologies to deliver citizen-centric services," Dr. Jaishankar said, highlighting the move as a milestone in India's Digital Public Infrastructure journey. What is an E-Passport? An e-passport is an electronic version of the traditional passport, embedded with a secure RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) chip in its cover. This chip securely stores biometric data, including the passport holder's photograph, fingerprints, and other personal information. The cover of the e-passport features a gold-colored symbol at the bottom — a global indicator that it complies with international e-passport standards. How to Apply for an E-Passport Visit the official Passport Seva website. Register as a new user or log in to your existing account. Fill in the e-passport application form. Schedule an appointment at a Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) or Post Office PSK (POPSK). Pay the required fee online. Visit the selected centre on the appointment date for document verification and biometric data capture. Key Benefits of E-Passports The introduction of e-passports is part of India's broader strategy to modernise citizen services, reduce paperwork, and improve efficiency across government functions. While currently available for new applicants, upgrades for existing passport holders may be offered in later phases. First Published:
Mint
10 hours ago
- Mint
Passport Seva 2.0: What is an e-passport, how to apply, benefits and full guide
In a significant push toward India's digital transformation, the government has launched the nationwide rollout of e-passports under the Passport Seva Programme (PSP) 2.0. Announced by External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar, the initiative is designed to streamline passport issuance, improve security, and offer faster immigration processing through embedded chip technology. 'We have rolled out PSP V2.0 across the country, leveraging advanced and high-end technologies to deliver citizen-centric services,' said Dr Jaishankar, positioning the launch as a key step in India's Digital Public Infrastructure roadmap. An e-passport is a next-generation travel document with a secure RFID chip embedded inside the cover. The chip stores key information, including the passport holder's biometric data, photo, name, and other personal details. The new e-passports are distinguishable by a gold-coloured symbol printed at the bottom of the cover — a global standard for electronic travel documents. The chip allows contactless verification and faster immigration clearance at global airports. It complies with ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organisation) standards, ensuring international interoperability and enhanced fraud protection. Visit the official Passport Seva website. Register as a new user or log in to your existing account. Fill out the application for an e-passport. Book an appointment at a Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) or Post Office Passport Seva Kendra (POPSK). Pay the fee online. Visit the centre on your appointment date for biometric capture and document verification. Enhanced Security: Biometric encryption makes e-passports significantly harder to forge or tamper with. Faster Processing: Chip-based authentication reduces the time spent at immigration counters. Global Compatibility: Accepted internationally for seamless travel. Future-Ready: Paves the way for automated border control systems in India. The e-passport rollout aligns with India's efforts to modernise public service delivery and reduce paperwork and inefficiencies. While the initial launch is focused on new passport applications, future phases may include upgrading existing passports to e-passports.
NDTV
15 hours ago
- NDTV
Passport Seva 2.0: How To Apply For E-Passport, Benefits And Other Details
Passport Seva 2.0: Union External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar last week announced the roll out of the e-passport initiative under the Passport Seva Programme (PSP) 2.0 across the country. Initially launched as a pilot project in select cities, the nationwide rollout is a step towards building a complete Digital India ecosystem for travellers. "In line with the Government of India's commitment to deliver the next level of citizen-centric service, I am delighted to inform that we have rolled out PSP V2.0 across the country. This would leverage advanced, high-end emerging technologies," said Dr Jaishankar. Greetings to all Passport Authorities in India and abroad on the occasion of the 13th Passport Seva Divas. Your commendable efforts, guided by 'Seva, Sushasan and Garib Kalyan', are instrumental to ensuring ease of travel, deepening access to global workplace and empowering the… — Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) June 24, 2025 What is an e-passport? An e-passport or electronic passport is a combined paper and electronic passport that has an embedded chip for enhanced security and faster processing. How does an e-passport work? The e-passport has a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Chip and an antenna embedded as an inlay. The chip contains the personal details and biometric information of the passport holder. The e-passport has a small additional gold colour symbol printed below the front cover, which will help distinguish it from regular passports. How to apply for an e-passport? To apply for an e-passport, an individual needs to visit the official Passport Seva Platform and follow the steps below. Visit the official Passport Seva website. New users shall sign up for an account, while existing users can simply log in. Fill in the e-passport application and take an appointment at the Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) or Post Office Passport Seva Kendra (POPSK). Pay the fee for the e-passport. Visit the PSK or POPSK at the scheduled time for biometric capture and document verification. Also Read | E-Passport Launched - Key Facts Travellers Need To Know Benefits of an e-passport Enhanced security: The chip is located on the front cover of the passport and securely contains your name, passport number, date of birth, and biometric details such as your photograph and fingerprints. Tamper-proof: Owing to their encryption and secure chip technology, e-passports are less likely to be forged or replicated. Contactless reading: Immigration officials can read the chip swiftly without opening the passport completely or scanning a barcode. Global use: Since the passports are compliant with international standards, they can be used globally for hassle-free travel.
India Today
20-06-2025
- India Today
Passport seva portal faces nationwide outage: Here is what users are reporting
The Passport Seva Portal, which offers passport-related services in India, is currently experiencing a major nationwide outage. According to multiple user reports on social media platforms such as X, the outage began on Thursday, disrupting operations across Passport Seva Kendras (PSKs) on both Thursday and Friday. The technical glitch has rendered both the website and mobile app non-functional, leaving thousands of applicants stranded and Today Tech reached out to the Passport Seva customer support helpline regarding the ongoing issue. While the team acknowledged the server problems, they did not provide any estimated timeline for when services would be restored. As of Friday afternoon, no official update had been issued by the Ministry of External Affairs or the Passport Seva earlier when asked in Parliament on whether the Ministry was aware of the delays in Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) offices due to slow server issues, the ministry hinted that the issue was likely due to the ongoing migration from Passport Seva Programme V1.0 (PSP V1.0) to Passport Seva Programme V2.0 (PSP V2.0). 'Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) is currently undertaking the process of migration from Passport Seva Programme V1.0 (PSP V1.0) to Passport Seva Programme V2.0 (PSP V2.0). This is being done in a phased manner since April 2024. The PSP V2.0 aims at providing the next level of citizen experiences using the latest and upgraded technology for the delivery of passport-related services to the citizens in a speedy, convenient and transparent manner.'advertisement Meanwhile, the disruption of the Passport Seva Portal has sparked widespread frustration among applicants, many of whom took to X (formerly Twitter) to share their experiences. Users across the country, from cities such as Delhi, Bhopal and Thane, reported receiving late-night cancellation messages or, in some cases, no intimation at all prior to their scheduled appointments. Several applicants also reported arriving at their designated PSKs only to find locked doors, no staff, and no on-ground communication.'The Passport Seva Kendra pasted a notice — due to a technical issue, unable to process requests. No SMS, email or phone call regarding this was sent to applicants... Even people came to know only after reaching the Seva Kendra. Gate is locked and no one is available,' writes @vidyaamp in his post on X. "Had an appointment for my kids' passports tomorrow morning, and for the second time in two months, they've asked us to reschedule due to technical issues, @passportsevamea. We received the message at 12:00 a.m., and they expect people to just wait around... Their app isn't working either,' writes another user, @MehulKothari3. The outage is causing some serious implications for those with urgent travel plans. Many students, professionals, and families with international commitments are facing delays, with many unsure about how and when they will be able to rebook appointments. Notably, this is not the first time that the Passport Seva system has faced such issues. Earlier this year in April, a similar server crash on Passport Seva led to a temporary halt of passport services nationwide, causing two days of disruption.
