RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO - 2172
ANSWERED ON - 07/08/2025
STATUS AND TIMELINE OF E-PASSPORT ROLLOUT
2172. SHRI KARTIKEYA SHARMA
Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:-
(a) the status and timeline of e-passport rollout under Passport Seva Programme 2.0, including the number of Passport Seva Kendras and Post Office Passport Seva Kendras issuing chip-enabled passports;
(b) whether additional security features like extended access control, enhanced biometric storage, or updated Public Key Infrastructure protocols are being added to meet International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards; and
(c) whether global partners or border control agencies are engaged for e-gate interoperability, with a roadmap for automatic immigration at airports?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a) Ministry has rolled out e-Passport and the upgraded version 2.0 of the Passport Seva Project (PSP V2.0) in all 37 Passport Offices in India, their respective 93 Passport Seva Kendras (PSKs) and 450 Post Office Passport Seva Kendras (POPSKs) across the country.
(b) Issuance of e-Passport is in conformity with ICAO guidelines and the characteristics of the e-Passport, the chip and Public Key Infrastructure are as specified in International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) document 9303.
(c) At Immigration Check Points where e-gates have been installed, e-Passport will facilitate the interface with border control agencies and its integration with e-gate will smoothen the immigration process at airports.
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