New Delhi [India] June 23 (ANI): The External Affairs Ministry on Friday announced ten percent rebate on passport fee for applicants who are either older than 60 years or younger than eight years.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj made this announcement and said that it would be implemented from Saturday.

Addressing the Passport Day function here, Swaraj said, "In the recent past the number of senior citizens applying for the passport has increased. Therefore, I announce rebate of 10 percent on passport fee for applicants older than 60 years and children below eight years. The rebate will be applicable from tomorrow," Swaraj said.

She said that the ministry has been making efforts to make passport process easier.

"Now, we have decided that an applicant can submit either pan card or ration card along with Aadhar card and Voter ID on a self attested declaration of having no criminal record to get the passport," said Swaraj.

She said the decision has been taken after it was found that people living in villages couldn't submit Pan Card as generally they don't have one. Earlier, Pan Card, Voter ID Card and Aadhaar Card were necessary to get passport.

The Minister also said that from now onwards the passports will be available in English and Hindi, adding that necessary instructions have been given to Nashik Printing Press.

She said that under Passport Aapkey Dwar (Passport at your doorsteps) scheme, the ministry is working to ensure that an applicant is not required to travel more than 50 kilometers.

"The mapping of the post offices is being done for the same," Swaraj said.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the Department of Posts (DOP) have decided to utilise the Head Post Offices (HPO)/ Post Offices in the country as Post Office Passport Seva Kendra (POPSK) for delivery of passport related services.

In the first phase, it has been decided to open 86 POPSKs in the country. Fifty two POPSKs have become functional. MEA and DOP are working closely for the operationalization of passport related services at the remaining 34 POPSK in the first phase.

"We have now decided to open another 149 POPSK to take the total number of POPSK to 235 in the country. With the addition of 235 POPSK, the total number of Passport Seva Kendras including POPSK will be 251, an auspicious number," Swaraj said.

Swaraj also assured the passport department officials that their interests would not be compromised in the backdrop of government's decision to open POPSKs.

The breakup of 149 POPSKs is: 07 in Andhra Pradesh,02 in Arunachal Pradesh, 09 in Assam,09 in Bihar,02 in Chhattisgarh,08 in Gujarat,07 in Haryana,03 in Himachal Pradesh,03 in Jammu and Kashmir, 03 in Jharkhand,07 in Karnataka,02 in Kerala,09 in Madhya Pradesh,11 in Maharashtra,02 in Meghalaya,03 in Odisha,05 in Punjab,01 in Puducherry,11 in Rajasthan,11 in Tamil Nadu,05 in Telangana,03 in Uttarakhand, 19 in Uttar Pradesh,04 in West Bengal, and 03 in Delhi. (ANI)


This story has not been edited. It has been published as provided by ANI