LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-3905
ANSWERED ON-11/08/2023
CRITERIA FOR PASSPORT
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†3905. SHRI VISHNU DAYAL RAM
Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state :-
(a) whether the Government has announced two major changes to facilitate and accelerate the process of getting passports for the first time applicants and ease the process of getting the time slot for passport appointment and if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether fulfilment of criteria of mandatory enclosure of three documents with the application will ensure the availability of a new passport for citizens under General category within one week only; and
(c) if so, the details thereof and whether the Government proposes to open new passport service centres at some new locations in the country and if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
(SHRI V. MURALEEDHARAN)
(a & b) Ministry has been simplifying the passport issuing process. The end to end application submission has been made online including payment of fee and scheduling of appointments etc. The Passport portal [www.passportindia.gov.in] is accessible to anyone, from anywhere and anytime in India. Citizens can also apply, pay and schedule appointments for passport services on mPassportSeva Mobile App, and do not require access a computer and printer to apply for passport services. Ministry’s mPassport Police App is being used by Police authorities for verification of antecedents’ of the applicant in a paperless digital flow. Further, DigiLocker has been successfully integrated with the PSP system enabling citizens to submit various documents required for passport services through DigiLocker in a paperless mode. The Ministry has also taken a number of steps to simplify passport policy and rules making it easier for the citizens to apply and get a passport. In the Normal/General category, for first time, applicants Passport is issued on the basis of Clear Police Verification Report (PVR).
For speedy issuance of Passports, there is a ‘Tatkaal Scheme’ in place, wherein 03 documents, out of the 13 listed documents (Ref Annexure-I 
) are to be submitted along with the passport application.
(c) It was decided in January 2017 to open Passport Kendra at the Head Post Offices (HPO)/Post Offices (PO) in the country called Post Office Passport Seva Kendra (POPSK) in each Lok Sabha Constituency where there is no Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) or POPSK. This was executed through a partnership between the Ministry of External Affairs and the Department of Posts. As on date, 93 PSKs and 431 POPSKs have been set up in the country and are operational to cater to the needs of passport seekers.
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