New Delhi: With a view to improve the level of identity verification, India will soon start issuing e-passports which will use Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) and biometrics. The concept of e-passport is not new and the idea was first announced by S Jaishankar in his first address as External Affairs Minister in 2019.
Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs Sanjay Bhattacharya recently informed that the new e-passport will secure biometric data, and will also be in line with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards. Presently printed booklets are given to citizens at the time of issuance of passports.
What are e-passports and what are their benefits?
According to the government website on smart card operating systems, e-passport booklets are embedded with an electronic chip to enhance security and improve the level of identity verification.
In order to reduce the overall time required for issuance of passports as well as to address the present delay in police verification, it has been ensured to pass the information electronically from a centralized database to which all relevant authorities would be linked.
The e-passport will enhance the security of the passport, eliminate duplication, eliminate data tampering and will be used by border control authorities to monitor the entry and exit of passengers.
Earlier, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had said that the ministry has initiated talks with the ‘India Security Press’ regarding the feasibility and applicability of the project for issuance of chip-enabled e-passports to citizens.
“We propose to take forward the manufacturing of e-passports on priority basis so that a new passport booklet with enhanced security features can be introduced in the near future,” the minister said.
How is it different from a traditional passport?
An e-passport is similar to a traditional passport except that it will have a chip that will contain the personal information of the passport holder along with travel details. It is more secure which involves biometrics, and is expected to reveal the information at airport counters within minutes to save time for passengers and airport staff.
Advanced Security Features
The Ministry of External Affairs will issue chip-enabled e-passports with advanced security features to its citizens. The personal details of the applicants will be digitally signed and stored in the chip which will be embedded in the passport booklet. If someone tampers with the chip, the system will be able to identify it, resulting in failed passport authentication.
When is it expected to roll out
For manufacturing of e-passports, India Security Press, Nashik has already awarded contract for procurement of International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) compliant electronic contactless inlays along with the operating system required for chip-enabled e-passports. has done.
On successful completion of the purchase process by the ISP, Nashik, the issuance of e-passport will start. TCS will also introduce the much-awaited e-passport. “We will bring technology (for e-passports), but you know sovereign functions like giving or printing passport booklets will continue with the government,” said Tej Bhatla, head of public sector business unit at TCS.
He explained that it will not be a completely paper-free document as the work like visa stamping will continue, but wherever possible the paper requirement will be reduced through automation.
All 36 passport offices in the country will be ready to issue e-passports once the components of the privatization system are incorporated into the existing passport issuance system.
Countries Offering E-Passports
It should be noted that the increased security features will also make passports more acceptable by a wider list of countries. This also means that the number of countries that can be entered with an Indian passport without a prior visa is likely to increase.
India ranks 90th on the Henley Passport Index, which lists the most travel-friendly passports in the world. Countries’ passports are sorted according to the number of destinations their holders can travel to without a prior visa.
As of now, 150 countries including the UK, Germany, Bangladesh and others already issue biometric passports. Although India does not yet issue biometric passports to its civilian citizens, diplomatic and official passports issued by the country have been biometrically secured since at least 2008. This is when the first e-passport was given to former President Pratibha Patil.
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