Passport issuing process simplified – Facility to tract your application and file online complaint in Grievances cell
The
External Affairs Minister has informed to the Members of the Lok Sabha
that the issue of passport mechanism is simplified. The press release
is reproduced below.
Simplifying Mechanism of Issuing Passport
The
minister of state in the ministry of external affairs Gen. (Dr) V. K.
Singh (retd) informed the members of Lok Sabha today in reply to a
question that (i) It would be incorrect to say that a large number of
applicants seeking passport services are unable to use online method
as often server goes down and the process of giving information is
complex. Effective technical infrastructure is in place to ensure that
the Passport Seva system is available for access at all times from any
location. The Passport Portal (www.passportindia.gov.in) is accessible
to anyone, anywhere and anytime. With a view to address the challenge of
digital divide, especially in the rural hinterland, the Ministry in
association with CSC e-Governance Services India Ltd. (which is promoted
by the Department of Electronics and IT), has facilitated online filing
of passport applications, through the vast network of over one lakh
Common Service Centres (CSCs) across rural hinterland. Under the
Passport Seva Project, a robust information system has been created to
offer a bouquet of online passport services.
(ii) Comprehensive information relating to passport application procedure, requirement of supporting documents, applicable fees, location of Passport Offices, Passport Seva Kendras, police station jurisdiction
is posted on the Portal to make it user-friendly. It is kept updated
with Advisories/Notices and Press Releases relating to Passport services
developments. Status of applications can be tracked through the
Passport Portal.
(iii) An e-mail based helpdesk
facility and a 24×7 National Call Centre has been set up to provide
requisite information to citizens.
(iv) The
Passport Seva system sends four free of cost SMS to applicants – (i) at
the time of dispatch of passport, (ii) in ‘returned undelivered’
passport cases, (iii) rejection of request for counter delivery cases
and (iv) clear Police Verification(PV) report in pre-PV PCC cases or
review of PV and clearance by the PIA. In addition, a premium optional
SMS Service, on nominal payment basis, has been made available to enable
citizens to receive alerts and updates regarding detailed progress of their passport applications and pending actions. The service can be availed from any mobile phone.
(v)
mPassport Seva mobile app provides passport related information
including PSK locator, applicable fees, mode of submission and tracking
of passport application status on smart phones.
(vi) For assistance, citizens can call toll-free helpline 1800-258-1800.
(vii)
The Passport system has interface with the police for verification of
personal particulars of applicants and with India Post for tracking
delivery of passports.
The following additional steps have been taken by the Government to further simplify the mechanism of issuing passports:–
I.
Police Verification: Police Verification of applicants’ particulars
plays an important role in timely dispatch of passports. The Ministry as
well as the Passport Offices continue to engage closely with the Police
Departments across States/Union Territories and with concerned Home
Departments to reduce time taken in police verification.
II.
The Government has set up 77 PSKs across the country. The number of
public dealing counters has been increased from the erstwhile 350 to
1610 in the new system and public dealing hours have gone up from 4
hours to 7 hours a day.
III. Greater outreach:
The Government is working on setting up 18 more PSKs in addition to the
existing functional 77 PSKs across the country. Five of these additional
have already been operationalised.
IV. In order
to speed up passport issuance, Walk-in facility has been allowed for
certain categories of services/ citizens having Application Registration Number
(ARN) to enable them to apply for Tatkaal services ; issue of Police
Clearance Certificate (PCC) ; deletion of Emigration Check Required(ECR)
status; inclusion of name of spouse in passport and new booklets
where pages have been exhausted. Senior citizens (above 60 years);
minors below 15 whose parents hold valid passports; differently-abled
persons; central/state government servants and their spouse/dependent
minor children, have also been permitted walk-in facility.
V.
With a view to meet heavy and seasonal demand for passport services,
Passport Melas are organized on weekends from time to time by Passport
Offices.
VI. Passport Seva Camps: In order to
provide closer and speedier passport services to people located far away
from PSKs, Passport Seva Camps are being organized at various locations
in the country.
VII. Passport Adalats, on need
basis, are also conducted by Passport Offices to redress passport
service grievances by dealing with citizens directly.
VIII.
Simplification of procedure: A number of steps have been taken to
simplify passport application submission procedure such as acceptance of
(a) registered rent agreement as proof of address, (b) self-attested
documents replacing the requirement of attestation by gazetted officers,
(c) Photo passbooks issued by Scheduled private sector Indian banks and
Regional Rural banks also as proof of address and identity. The
Government has also liberalised the requirement of acceptance of Birth
Certificate of abandoned/orphaned children besides the requirement of
NOC by Govt. officials for passport applications.
The online system
and establishment of PSKs have facilitated better accountability,
transparency and streamlining of passport service delivery. This has
also helped in issuing error-free and more secure passports. The time
taken in issuing passports has decreased since the introduction of online application
system and opening of PSKs. During the period January–June, 2015, 90%
passports were issued within 14 days (excluding the time taken for
verification) compared to 59% during January-June, 2014.