New Delhi: With a view to improving the level of identity verification, India will soon start issuing e-passports that will use Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) and biometrics. The concept of e-passport is not new and the idea was first announced by S Jaishankar in his first address in 2019 as foreign minister.


Sanjay Bhattacharya, secretary in the ministry of external affairs, has recently informed that the new e-passport will secure biometric data, and also be in line with the standards of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). At present, citizens are given printed booklets at the time when passports are issued. 



What Are E-Passports And Their Benefits?


The e-Passports booklets are embedded with an electronic chip to enhance security and to improve the level of identity verification, according to the government website on the smart card operating system.


The overall time required for issuing passports is set to reduce along with addressing current delays in police verification by ensuring information passes electronically from a centralized database to which all relevant authorities would connect.


The e-Passport will enhance the security of passports, eliminate duplication, eliminate data tampering, and will be used by border control authorities for monitoring the entry and exit of passengers.


Earlier, minister of external affairs S Jaishankar had said the ministry has initiated talks with the ‘India Security Press’ about the feasibility and applicability of the project for issuing chip-enabled e-passports to the citizens.


"We propose to pursue the manufacture of e-passports on priority so that a new passport booklet with advanced security features can be rolled out in the near future," the minister said.


How's It Different From Traditional Passport


An E-passport is the same as the traditional one except that it will contain a chip carrying the personal information of the passport holder along with the travel details. It is more secure comprises biometrics, and is expected to reveal information at the airport counter within minutes saving time for the passengers and airport staff.


Advanced Security Features


The external affairs ministry will issue chip-enabled e-Passports with advanced security features to its citizens. Applicants’ personal particulars would be digitally signed and stored in the chip which would be embedded in the passport booklet. If anyone happens to tamper with the chip, the system shall be able to identify it, resulting in the failure of passport authentication.


When Is It Expected To Be Rolled Out


For manufacturing e-Passports, India Security Press, Nashik has already awarded the contract for procurement of International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)-compliant electronic contactless inlays along with its operating system necessary for chip-enabled e-Passports.


Issuance of e-Passports will commence on the successful completion of the procurement process by ISP, Nashik. TCS will also introduce the much-awaited e-passport. "We will bring in the technology (for e-passport), but you know the sovereign functions like granting or printing of the passport booklet will continue with the government," Tej Bhatla, business unit head for public sector at TCS, told PTI.


He explained that it will not be a completely paper-free document as work like visa stamping will continue, but will definitely reduce the need for paper through automation wherever possible.


All 36 passport offices in the country will be set to issue e-passports once the components of the personalisation system are inducted into the existing passport issuance system.


Countries Offering E-Passports


It is to be noted that increased security features will also make the passport more acceptable by a wider list of countries.  It also means that the number of countries one can access with an Indian passport without a prior visa is likely to go up.


India is ranked 90 on the Henley Passport Index, which lists the world’s most travel-friendly passports. The passports of countries are ranked according to the number of destinations their holders can visit without a prior visa.


So far, 150 countries, including the UK, Germany, Bangladesh, and others already issue biometric passports. Though India does not yet issue biometric passports for its ordinary citizens, the diplomatic and official passports issued by the country have been biometrically secured since at least 2008. It is when the former President Pratibha Patil was given the first e-passport.