Latest news with #PassportSeva2.0
News18
30-06-2025
- 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:
NDTV
30-06-2025
- General
- NDTV
'Felt Dismissed And Insulted': Indian Man Stopped From Speaking In Meetings Due To Accent
An Indian man abroad has claimed that he was asked to stop speaking in meetings because his accent was difficult to understand. The 32-year-old man, working in the USA, said he was left disappointed due to the behaviour meted out towards him by the team member. The OP said he had been working with the same team for over a year, where everyone else, bar him, was an American. "Today, during a meeting, I asked a team member (about 55 years old) for a project update as part of my regular responsibilities. He told me to stop speaking in meetings because he couldn't understand my accent," the Indian employee wrote on the r/IndianWorkplace subreddit. The man said it was the first instance in his professional career when he had been stopped from speaking by one of his team members. "I felt dismissed and insulted. I've always made an effort to communicate clearly and professionally. No one else has said anything like this before I have been with the same client for over a year now," he said. "Is this kind of reaction something others have encountered? How do you deal with something like this professionally without letting it damage your confidence or your contributions?" Stakeholder told me to stop talking in meetings because of my accent-is this normal? by u/OkSpecial9640 in IndianWorkplace Also Read | Passport Seva 2.0: How To Apply For E-Passport, Benefits And Other Details Social media reacts As the post went viral, a section of users sympathised with the man while others told him to check with others if his accent was indeed thick for other native speakers. "That's really rude, usually if they cannot understand you they might ask you to speak slowly, but telling you to just stop speaking is very rude and not normal behaviour," said one user while another added: "That's so rude and constitutes workplace bullying I think. I would speak to my manager and file an HR complaint." A third commented: "Please do understand from your colleagues how do you fare in your spoken skills/accent. If it's good, get a senior / manager to talk to the client about the issue. If there's a genuine gap which should be bridged, seek help and work on it." A fourth said: "Setup a meeting, and record yourself speaking. Then play it back and listen to yourself. This can be a good litmus test of how others "hear" you."
NDTV
30-06-2025
- 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.
Time of India
29-06-2025
- Time of India
Passport Seva 2.0: Check out the eligibility, how to apply, documents required, benefits, and more
Passport Seva 2.0: Passport Seva 2.0 rollout marks a watershed moment in India's quest for streamlined, secure travel documents. Launched nationwide on Passport Seva Divas, the upgraded system introduces e-passports with embedded chips, fresh options like mobile passport vans, and enhanced Post Office Passport Seva Kendras . With the support of the mPassport Police App, police verification is now faster and more transparent, cutting delays from weeks to days. The result? A travel-ready document that meets global standards and delivers convenience to your doorstep. This transformation in the Passport Seva Programme signals a new era of digital-first governance and user-centric service. Keep reading to explore how this modernization might change how millions of Indians travel abroad. What is Passport Seva 2.0? With the June 25, 2025, launch of Passport Seva 2.0, India's passport services will undergo a technological revolution. Advanced features, including cloud computing for smooth service delivery, quicker police verification via the mPassport Police App, and more availability through mobile passport vans and new service centers, are all part of the updated system. There are 450 Post Office Passport Seva Kendras (POPSKs), with 10 more openings as of this writing. The e-Passport deployment, which External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar announced on the 13th Passport Seva Divas, ushers in a new era of travel documents for Indian nationals. With contactless chip technology, e-passports offer improved security, expedited immigration, and a seamless journey. Here is all the information you require to apply for an Indian e-passport. Passport Seva 2.0 available in these states Nagpur, Bhubaneswar, Jammu, Panaji, Shimla, Raipur, Amritsar, Jaipur, Tamil Nadu, Chennai, Hyderabad, Surat, and Ranchi are notable locations where the e-Passports service is being offered. Soon, it should be accessible across the country. e-Passport eligibility The requirements for applying for an e-passport are comparable to obtaining a traditional Indian passport. E-passports are now being issued in stages but will soon be required for all new applications. How to apply for Passport Seva 2.0? To apply for an e-passport, individuals can use the Passport Seva Portal or make an appointment for biometric enrollment at nearby Passport Seva Kendras or Post Office locations. Step 1: Register by going to the Passport Seva Online Portal. Step 2: Select the "Apply for Fresh Passport/Re-issue of Passport" link on the Passport Seva Online Portal after logging in. Applicants should choose the Fresh Issuance category if this is their first time applying. It should be noted that the applicant should not have previously held an official, diplomatic, or ordinary passport. Step 3: Complete the necessary information and submit. Step 4: Then tap "Pay and Schedule Appointment," accessible under "View Saved/Submitted Applications," to set up an appointment. Please be aware that all PSK, POPSK, and PO locations require online payment to schedule appointments. Step 5: Print the receipt with your Application Reference Number (ARN) or Appointment Number after completing the application. Your appointment details will also be sent to you via SMS. You must present it at the passport office, so save it. Step 6: After completing the passport application, bring original documentation to the Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) or Regional Passport Office (RPO) to finish the physical verification procedure. e-Passport: Document required To apply for an e-passport, you will need the following documents: Evidence of address, including utility bills, bank passbooks, Aadhaar, PAN cards, etc. Evidence of birth, including a driver's license, matriculation certificate, voter ID, birth certificate, Aadhaar, etc. The original passport, observation page, copies of the first and last pages, and an ECR or non-ECR page must all be submitted by those requesting a passport reissue. Benefits of e-passport The new e-passports are chip-enabled, biometric travel credentials that reduce fraud and improve identification verification. Important characteristics include: Encrypted biometric and personal information is stored on an embedded chip. Biometric information such as a photo, iris scan, and fingerprints Contactless scanning to expedite clearance at airports adherence to the global travel rules set out by the ICAO These passports guarantee increased security and convenience of travel abroad, bringing India into line with international standards and increasing its residents' opportunities for global mobility. Police verification of e-passport Usually, a police verification procedure is necessary. This procedure now only takes 5–7 days in many places because of the mPassport Police App. Quicker delivery and verification With the mPassport Police App now available in 25 states and union territories, police checks can be completed in 5–7 days, greatly reducing verification time. People with urgent travel needs will profit from this change, which speeds up passport processing.
Time of India
26-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
‘I stopped using Google Pay…': Sania Mirza's sister Anam Mirza quits UPI apps for mindful spending, sparking mixed reactions on social media
Anam Mirza, Sania Mirza 's sister, recently posted her strategy for money discipline by deleting all the UPI-based digital payment applications from her phone. It was announced through a video that was uploaded to her Instagram series called Little Changes, Big Impact , in which she described the real changes she implemented to manage expenses and create savings. In the video, Anam declared, 'This year, I stopped using Google Pay. No UPI. No instant payment. This year, I emptied my UPI accounts, deleted my UPI apps, no balance, nothing.' Her choice, she said, was to make spending less convenient and more thoughtful. Though the step made day-to-day life a little difficult at first, such as having to request friends to pay for minute things like coffee, Anam got used to it eventually. Her post went viral within no time, garnering attention not only from followers but from a greater portion of social media users talking about digital payment behaviour. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Black Friday de Hyundai Hyundai España Más información Undo Anam Mirza quits UPI for financial control As per her description in the video, Anam Mirza's first step was to remove all digital payment apps like Google Pay, literally shutting off her means of making immediate transactions. That way, she expected to avoid impulse purchases, which, in her opinion, were being facilitated by the convenience of UPI-based systems. Mixed reactions on social media Anam's declaration soon turned into a subject of discussion on Instagram and other platforms. A few people were amazed by the strategy and complimented her on posting a trick that they believed could be helpful to other users as well. Comments such as, 'Makes a big difference, been doing this since 6 months and oh boy we don't overspend now,' and 'Absolutely correct to keep control on expenses,' were left behind by the fans who repeated the success of her choice. One user posted, 'This is definitely make very very big impact for sure,' while another said, 'Little things really matter. I started doing this too. It works.' But not everyone responded positively. Many users questioned whether it was even possible to avoid UPI totally, particularly in a nation where digital payments are such an integral part of everyday life. One user commented, 'Suits you because you're already rich. Only middle-class people like us could relate, how convenient it is to have UPI. People should definitely think before doing unnecessary expenses but deleting UPI a/c for that is too much.' Another user wrote, 'Kaha jaoge itna paisa bachake udao dusro ko bhi kamane ka mauka do,' which implies that excessive savings may truncate economic circulation and avenues for others. Also read | S. Jaishankar launches Passport Seva 2.0 in India: Know how to apply for e-Passport online, eligibility, and other information AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
