LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO- 2197
ANSWERED ON - 01/08/2025
OPERATIONS OF CENTRAL PASSPORT ORGANISATION
2197. SHRI K SUDHAKARAN
Will the Minister of External Affairs be pleased to state:
(a) the number of passport applications approved during the last one year;
(b) the details of passports issuing authority in the Central Passport Organization (CPO);
(c) whether Regional Passport Officers (RPOs) are designated as Passport Issuing Authorities, if so, the details thereof including the number of applications that were approved by RPOs across the India from 2024 to April 2025 and if not, the reason therefor;
(d) whether the non-gazetted employees in the CPO can approve or verify passport applications, if so, the details thereof including their designation/job, roles including Rajbhasha and stenographic service and the pay level; and
(e) the details of the transfer policy that exist for CPO officials and the criteria for transferring officers between head stations?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a) Number of passports granted in the year 2024 is 1,46,53,633. This includes 1,30,76,427 in India and 15,77,206 in Indian Missions and Posts abroad.
(b) In terms of the Schedule I of the Passports Rules 1980, Passport Officer, Deputy Passport Officer, Assistant Passport Officer, Senior Superintendent and Superintendent are mentioned as Passport Issuing Authorities.
(c) Yes. There are 37 Regional Passport Officers/ Passport Officers across the country. Total number of passports issued by Regional Passport Offices across the country, during the period from 01.01.2024 till 30.04.2025 is 1,71,02,492.
(d) Non-Gazetted employees of the Central Passport Organisation can verify the passport applications. In exercise of powers vested in the Central Government by the Section 24 of the Passports Act 1967 read with Rule 3 of the Passport Rules 1980, Non-Gazetted employees of the Central Passport Organisation can also be assigned the work to grant/approve passports in public interest. In addition to this, these Non-Gazetted employees handle other administrative and passport related functions. Details of designation and pay level of Non-Gazetted employees are as under:
I. Assistant Superintendent – Pay Level 6
II. Senior Passport Assistant – Pay Level 4
III. Junior Passport Assistant – Pay Level 2
IV. Senior Translation Officer – Pay Level 7
V. Junior Translation Officer – Pay Level 6
VI. Stenographer Grade I – Pay Level 6
VII. Stenographer Grade II – Pay Level 4
VIII. Office Assistant – Pay Level 1
(e) Transfer Policy Guidelines 2018 issued by the Ministry of External Affairs contain the guidelines for transfer of the employees of the Central Passport Organisation. As per the said guidelines, tenure of all officials is 36 months from the date of joining for all Passport Offices other than those in Jammu and Kashmir, and at Guwahati, where the tenure is 24 months from the date of joining.