Jaishankar launches Passport Seva 2.0, rolls out e-Passports nationwide on Passport Seva Divas
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar announced the nationwide rollout of e-Passports and advancements to the Passport Seva Programme on Passport Seva Divas. Passport issuance has significantly increased over the last decade, reflecting improved ...
In a post on X, the Minister said, “Seva, Sushasan and Garib Kalyan are three key pillars of governance that would lead us to a Viksit Bharat. They are all reflected with prominence in our Passport Seva Programme.”
Highlighting progress over the last decade, Jaishankar said passport issuance has grown from 91 lakh in 2014 to 1.46 crore in 2024. He noted that this expansion reflects improved access and delivery of passport services nationwide.
The Minister announced the full rollout of PSP Version 2.0 across India, stating, “In line with the Government of India's commitment to deliver the next level of citizen-centric service, I am delighted to inform that we have rolled out PSP V2.0 across the country.” The upgraded version integrates advanced technologies aimed at enhancing efficiency and transparency.
He added that pilot testing of Global PSP V2.0 is currently underway and will be phased into Indian missions abroad.
On e-Passports, Jaishankar said the initiative marks a significant shift in travel documentation, enabling faster and more secure immigration through contactless chip-based data reading.
He also mentioned the launch of the mPassport Police App, which has helped reduce police verification time to 5–7 days in 25 States and Union Territories.
Ten new Post Office Passport Seva Kendras (POPSKs) were set up over the past year, including the 450th centre in Kushinagar in April 2025. He said mobile passport service vans have further extended services to remote parts of the country.
The Minister said these improvements have helped Indian workers and professionals engage more easily with global job markets.
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