The Indian government has recently announced plans to soon issue ePassports to citizens applying for a new passport or renewing an existing one. This initiative stems from an agreement signed between the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and Tata Consultancy Services Limited (TCS), which promises to expedite the next phase of the Passport Seva Programme (PSP), known as PSP-V2.0.
MEA-TCS Partnership in the Passport Process
This partnership dating back to 2008, has significantly contributed to the digitisation of the complex passport issuing process involving numerous stakeholders within the extensive Government network. TCS is responsible for providing “support functions” which include “citizen interface, technology backbone, call centres, training and change management”, while the government will handle “all sovereign and security related functions” pertaining to the issuance of passports.
Passport Seva Programme (PSP): An Overview
The PSP is one of India’s numerous Mission Mode Projects (MMPs). An MMP forms part of the National e-Governance Plan (NeGP) with each project focusing on a specific aspect of electronic governance such as banking, land records or commercial taxes.
PSP-V2.0: Expanding and Improving PSP
PSP-V2.0 builds on its predecessor, PSP-V1.0, an e-government tool that instituted fresh changes to the delivery of passport-related services. The aim of this new initiative is to develop a digital platform that is “transparent, more accessible and reliable” backed by a trained workforce. The outcome would be a sophisticated digital ecosystem, overhauling existing processes and uniting various wings of the Government involved in passport issuance.
New Features of PSP-V2.0
PSP-V2.0 is anticipated to benefit from technological upgrades including usage of cutting-edge biometrics technology, Artificial Intelligence, Advanced Data Analytics, Chat-Bot, Auto-response, Natural Language Processing, and Cloud Enablement. The standout feature of PSP-V2.0 is the issuance of a new generation of passports called e-passports.
ePassports and Their Significance
ePassports aim to enhance the security of traditional passports, ensuring smoother passage through international immigration posts. They will host embedded chips containing personal details of the holder, including biographical information. The National Informatics Centre (NIC) and IIT Kanpur have jointly developed the software for the e-passport. With its establishment in 1976, NIC has aimed to provide technology-driven solutions to central and state governments, and currently serves as the Indian Government’s tech partner.
Not only will ePassports facilitate the immigration process worldwide but they also promise to bolster digital safety for passport holders. Abiding by International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards, these passports are designed to be resilient and harder to destroy. Established in 1944, ICAO is a United Nations specialized agency which laid the foundation for the standards and procedures for peaceful global air navigation. India holds membership of this prestigious organization.
