Passport Issuance
Passport Issuance
The Passport Seva Project (PSP) has
been implemented by the Ministry with the establishment of 77 Passport Seva
Kendras (PSKs) operationalised by June, 2012. Subsequently, to provide more
access points for passport services, the Ministry decided to set up 18
additional Passport Seva Laghu Kendras (PSLK). State-wise list of
functional/upcoming PSLKs is enclosed at Annexure I. In view of increased
demand for passports, the Ministry is considering to further increase the
number of PSKs in the country.
The Ministry has already been utilizing the services of Common Services Centers
(CSCs) with a view to extend its digital outreach to rural hinterland. The
Ministry in association with CSC e-Governance Services India Ltd. which is
promoted by the Department of Electronics and Information Technology has
facilitated online filing of passport applications through the vast network of
over one lakh Common Services Centers. This arrangement was firmed up in
March 2014 and full roll out came into effect from April 2014. Under this
arrangement, CSCs facilitate filling and uploading of Passport application, online
payment and scheduling of appointment for the applicant to visit the concerned
PSK at a nominal charge not exceeding Rs.100/-. So far, a total of
1,31,713 applications have been submitted through CSCs. 11,824 applications
were submitted in the month of October, 2015 through CSC network.
The list of number of passports issued by Passport Offices in India, excluding
issued overseas, during the current year till 31st October 2015 is
enclosed at Annexure II.
The Passport Seva Programme is being implemented successfully in
Public-Private-Partnership mode with Tata Consultancy Services for the last
four years. The information relating to passport issuance is available on the
user friendly portal http://passportindia.gov.in
which is accessible to anyone, anywhere and anytime. Comprehensive information
relating to passport application procedures, requirement of supporting
documents, applicable fees, location of Passport Offices, Passport Seva
Kendras, police station jurisdiction etc. is posted on the Portal to make it
user-friendly. The portal is updated with Advisories/Notices and Press
Releases relating to Passport services developments from time to time. A 24 x 7
National Call Centre has been set up which provides real-time status and
up-to-date information in 17 languages using a toll free number 1800-258-1800.
mPassport Seva mobile app provides passport related information including PSK
locator, applicable fees, mode of submission and tracking of passport
application status on smart phones. Ample publicity is given by the concerned
Passport Office for holding Passport Seva Camps, Passport Melas and Passport
Adalats well in advance so that applicants can make full use of these special
dispensations. Passport Awareness events are also held occasionally by
respective Passport Offices. The Common Service Centers are also guiding
citizens about online submission of passport applications, especially in rural
areas.
Annexure-I
List of functional/upcoming Passport Seva Kendras
(PSKs)
|
S. No.
|
State / UT
|
Location of PSK
|
Under Passport
Office
|
|
1
|
Mizoram
|
Aizawl
|
Guwahati
|
|
2
|
Manipur
|
Imphal
|
Guwahati
|
|
3
|
Meghalaya
|
Shillong
|
Guwahati
|
|
4
|
Arunachal Pradesh
|
Itanagar
|
Guwahati
|
|
5
|
Nagaland
|
Dimapur
|
Guwahati
|
|
6
|
Tripura
|
Agartala
|
Kolkata
|
|
7
|
Sikkim
|
Gangtok
|
Kolkata
|
|
8
|
West Bengal
|
Siliguri
|
Kolkata
|
|
9
|
West Bengal
|
Kharagpur
|
Kolkata
|
|
10
|
West Bengal
|
Kolkata (MEA Branch
Secretariat)
|
Kolkata
|
|
11
|
Bihar
|
Darbhanga
|
Patna
|
|
12
|
Jammu & Kashmir
|
Leh
|
Srinagar
|
|
13
|
Madhya Pradesh
|
Indore
|
Bhopal
|
|
14
|
Maharashtra
|
Solapur
|
Pune
|
|
15
|
Karnataka
|
Kalaburagi
|
Bangalore
|
|
16
|
Andhra Pradesh
|
Bhimavaram
|
Visakhapatnam
|
|
17
|
Telangana
|
Karimnagar
|
Hyderabad
|
|
18
|
Puducherry
|
Puducherry
|
Chennai
|
*****
Annexure-II
|
State/UT
Wise number of Passports issued from 1st Jan, 2015 to 31st
Oct, 2015
|
|
|
State Name
|
Passports
issued
|
|
Andaman & Nicobar
|
4015
|
|
Andhra Pradesh
|
329847
|
|
Arunachal Pradesh
|
1224
|
|
Assam
|
52617
|
|
Bihar
|
286075
|
|
Chandigarh
|
24209
|
|
Chhattisgarh
|
31537
|
|
Dadra and Nagar Haveli
|
1327
|
|
Daman and Diu
|
6769
|
|
Delhi
|
322270
|
|
Goa
|
37546
|
|
Gujarat
|
597879
|
|
Haryana
|
206476
|
|
Himachal Pradesh
|
35476
|
|
Jammu and Kashmir
|
92308
|
|
Jharkhand
|
66705
|
|
Karnataka
|
521165
|
|
Kerala
|
906888
|
|
Lakshadweep
|
1498
|
|
Madhya Pradesh
|
137703
|
|
Maharashtra
|
954705
|
|
Manipur
|
4119
|
|
Meghalaya
|
4179
|
|
Mizoram
|
2463
|
|
Nagaland
|
2312
|
|
Odisha
|
84111
|
|
Puducherry
|
17802
|
|
Punjab
|
558459
|
|
Rajasthan
|
244706
|
|
Sikkim
|
3898
|
|
Tamil Nadu
|
810032
|
|
Telangana
|
422589
|
|
Tripura
|
16507
|
|
Uttar Pradesh
|
1097381
|
|
Uttarakhand
|
70048
|
|
West Bengal
|
448333
|
|
Total
|
8405178
|
The Minister of State for the external Affairs Gen.
Dr. V. K. Singh (Retd.) provided this information in reply to a question in Lok
Sabha today.
*********
HAJ Yatra
For Haj-2015, Government of Saudi Arabia had allotted a total quota of
1,36,020 for Indian Haj pilgrimage. Out of this, 1,00,020 seats were allotted
for Haj pilgrims travelling through Haj Committee of India (HCOI) and 36,000
seats to Private Tour Operators (PTOs). During Haj-2015, a total of 1,35,868
proceeded for Haj including 99,868 Haj pilgrims who performed Haj through HCOI
and 36,000 pilgrims who travelled through PTOs. The State-wise list of Haj
pilgrims who travelled through HCOI in 2015 is attached at Annexure-I. No
State-wise break up of pilgrims undertaken Haj through PTOs is available.
The total expenditure incurred by the Government on Haj-2015 is as follows:
|
Year
|
No. of Haj pilgrims who proceeded for Haj-2015
|
Expenditure on Haj incurred by Ministry of External
Affairs
(Rupees in crores)
|
Expenditure on Haj subsidy administered by Ministry
of Civil Aviation
(Rupees in crores)
|
|
2015
|
HCOI- 99,868
PTOs – 36,000
Total - 1,35,868
|
53.41
|
500
|
Details of Haj subsidy per pilgrim at various embarkation points provided by
Ministry of Civil Aviation is attached at Annexure II.
Annual budget provision to meet expenditure was made in the budget of Ministry
of External Affairs. Similarly, budget provision for Haj subsidy was made
by Ministry of Civil Aviation.
|
|
|
Annexure-I
|
|
Number of pilgrims who proceeded for Haj 2015
through Haj Committee of India
|
||
|
|
||
|
Sr.No
|
STATE
|
Proceeded
|
|
1
|
ANDAMAN & NICOBAR
|
74
|
|
2
|
ANDHRA PRADESH
|
2398
|
|
3
|
ASSAM
|
3789
|
|
4
|
BIHAR
|
7449
|
|
5
|
CHANDIGARH
|
50
|
|
6
|
CHHATISGARH
|
321
|
|
7
|
DADRA & NAGAR HAVELI
|
19
|
|
8
|
DAMAN & DIU
|
23
|
|
9
|
DELHI
|
1226
|
|
10
|
GOA
|
183
|
|
11
|
GUJARAT
|
6513
|
|
12
|
HARYANA
|
909
|
|
13
|
HIMACHAL PRADESH
|
84
|
|
14
|
JAMMU & KASHMIR
|
6611
|
|
15
|
JHARKHAND
|
2831
|
|
16
|
KARNATAKA
|
4933
|
|
17
|
KERALA
|
6169
|
|
18
|
LAKSHADWEEP
|
291
|
|
19
|
MADHYA PRADESH
|
2966
|
|
20
|
MAHARASHTRA
|
8007
|
|
21
|
MANIPUR
|
317
|
|
22
|
ORISSA
|
570
|
|
23
|
PONDICHERRY
|
142
|
|
24
|
PUNJAB
|
281
|
|
25
|
RAJASTHAN
|
3712
|
|
26
|
TAMIL NADU
|
2633
|
|
27
|
TELANGANA
|
2952
|
|
28
|
TRIPURA
|
93
|
|
29
|
UTTAR PRADESH
|
22992
|
|
30
|
UTTRAKHAND
|
765
|
|
31
|
WEST BENGAL
|
9897
|
|
|
GOVT QUOTA
|
402
|
|
|
KHADIMUL HUJJAJ
|
266
|
|
|
TOTAL PILGRIMS OF HCOI
|
99868
|
|
|
|
|
|
Annexure-II
|
|
Haj Subsidy provided by Ministry of Civil Aviation for Haj 2015
|
||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sr.No
|
Embarkation
Point |
Fare per pilgrim
in INR |
Fare collected
by HCOI- per pilgrim |
Fare per pilgrim
as subsidy from MoCA |
|
1
|
Cochin
|
71825
|
42000
|
29825
|
|
2
|
Delhi
|
65520
|
42000
|
23520
|
|
3
|
Goa
|
95550
|
42000
|
53550
|
|
4
|
Hyderabad
|
69355
|
42000
|
27355
|
|
5
|
Mumbai
|
57655
|
42000
|
15655
|
|
6
|
Nagpur
|
80600
|
42000
|
38600
|
|
7
|
Srinagar
|
122850
|
42000
|
80850
|
|
8
|
Aurangabad
|
87490
|
42000
|
45490
|
|
9
|
Bhopal
|
97240
|
42000
|
55240
|
|
10
|
Gaya
|
116870
|
42000
|
74870
|
|
11
|
Guwahati
|
103870
|
42000
|
61870
|
|
12
|
Indore
|
99190
|
42000
|
57190
|
|
13
|
Jaipur
|
81250
|
42000
|
39250
|
|
14
|
Mangalore
|
115570
|
42000
|
73570
|
|
15
|
Ranchi
|
107640
|
42000
|
65640
|
|
16
|
Varanasi
|
84305
|
42000
|
42305
|
|
17
|
Ahmedabad
|
61945
|
42000
|
19945
|
|
18
|
Bangalore
|
70850
|
42000
|
28850
|
|
19
|
Chennai
|
70460
|
42000
|
28460
|
|
20
|
Kolkata
|
84240
|
42000
|
42240
|
|
21
|
Lucknow
|
81250
|
42000
|
39250
|
The Minister of State for the external Affairs Gen.
Dr. V. K. Singh (Retd.) provided this information in reply to a question in Lok
Sabha today.
**********
Hindi
as Official Language in UN
The Government has been actively taking necessary
measures for the introduction of Hindi as one of the Official Languages of the
UN. A High level Committee under the Chairmanship of the External Affairs
Minister was constituted on 26 February, 2003 followed by a sub-Committee under
the Chairmanship of the Minister of State for External Affairs in August, 2003
to look into the matter and take necessary measures. Keeping in view this
objective, the 8th World Hindi Conference was organized in New York on 13 July
2007 and its inaugural session was held at the UN Headquarters, which was
attended by the UN Secretary General Mr. Ban Ki-moon (10 World Hindi
Conferences have been held till date all over the world; 10th World Hindi
Conference was organised from 10 to 12 Sep 2015 in Bhopal). One of the
recommendations of the session on “Hindi in Foreign Policy” (Videsh Neeti Mein
Hindi) at the 10th World Hindi Conference was also that Hindi should be made a
UN language. A Committee has been established under the Chairmanship of
External Affairs Minister for compliance with this and other recommendations.
In addition, a World Hindi Secretariat has been set up in Mauritius since 11
February 2008 to promote Hindi as an international language. On several
occasions, Indian leaders have delivered statements at the UN in Hindi. On 27
September 2014, Prime Minister addressed the 69th UN General Assembly Session
at New York in Hindi. He also addressed the United Nations Sustainable
Development Summit at New York in Hindi on 25 September, 2015. On 01 October
2015, External Affairs Minister delivered her statement at the General Debate
of the 70th UN General Assembly Session at New York in Hindi. Necessary
arrangements were made for simultaneous interpretation of these statements in
English by the Permanent Mission of India in New York. The Government of
India's sustained efforts have also ensured that the United Nations offers its
programmes on the UN Radio Website in Hindi also. The Government continues to
work steadfastly in popularizing Hindi and for the objective of Hindi being
designated as a UN language.
The total cost provisioned by UN on providing services in all the current UN official languages (6 Languages) is approximately US$ 492 million for the current biennium 2014-2015. Given that this cost is for six official languages for two years, the cost for provision of services in one UN language is approximately US$ 41 million per annum. This cost is for provision of overall services including documentation, translation, interpretation, verbatim reporting, printing etc. in all the four UN Offices viz. New York, Geneva, Vienna and Nairobi. In case of including Hindi as an official language, there would be additional cost for providing infrastructure/equipment and space for additional interpreters. Expenditure incurred towards introduction of a new official language would have to be borne by Member States based on the scale of assessment.
The Minister of State for the external Affairs Gen. Dr. V. K. Singh (Retd.) provided this information in reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.
The total cost provisioned by UN on providing services in all the current UN official languages (6 Languages) is approximately US$ 492 million for the current biennium 2014-2015. Given that this cost is for six official languages for two years, the cost for provision of services in one UN language is approximately US$ 41 million per annum. This cost is for provision of overall services including documentation, translation, interpretation, verbatim reporting, printing etc. in all the four UN Offices viz. New York, Geneva, Vienna and Nairobi. In case of including Hindi as an official language, there would be additional cost for providing infrastructure/equipment and space for additional interpreters. Expenditure incurred towards introduction of a new official language would have to be borne by Member States based on the scale of assessment.
The Minister of State for the external Affairs Gen. Dr. V. K. Singh (Retd.) provided this information in reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.
********
MADAD
In
pursuance of “good governance” initiatives, the Ministry of External Affairs
has launched an online Consular Grievances Monitoring System, named MADAD, on
21 February 2015, to extend a helping hand to Indians abroad requiring consular
assistance. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the Ministry of Overseas
Indian Affairs (MOIA) work together to address complaints received through
MADAD. All our Missions and Posts abroad and the MEA’s Branch Secretariats in
Chennai, Guwahati, Hyderabad and Kolkata, have been linked to this portal for
consular grievance tracking and follow-up.
The MADAD online portal represents a qualitative improvement over existing procedures for handling of consular grievances, through online forwarding, filing, tracking and escalation until their eventual resolution. It allows direct registration of the grievances by the members of the public and effective tracking of the entire grievance handling process all the way until the redressal of the grievance.
The MADAD portal deals with grievances referred to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs (MOIA), based on their respective mandates.
All Indian Missions and Posts abroad are linked with MADAD.
So far, 4709 complaints have been registered on the MADAD portal.
Out of 4709 complaints received, 3932 grievances have been resolved till date. 777 grievances are pending because of various reasons, such as more information to be furnished by the grievants, responses awaited from the local Foreign Office/local companies/employers or other Departments and matters pending in courts, etc.
The Minister of State for the external Affairs Gen. Dr. V. K. Singh (Retd.) provided this information in reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.
The MADAD online portal represents a qualitative improvement over existing procedures for handling of consular grievances, through online forwarding, filing, tracking and escalation until their eventual resolution. It allows direct registration of the grievances by the members of the public and effective tracking of the entire grievance handling process all the way until the redressal of the grievance.
The MADAD portal deals with grievances referred to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs (MOIA), based on their respective mandates.
All Indian Missions and Posts abroad are linked with MADAD.
So far, 4709 complaints have been registered on the MADAD portal.
Out of 4709 complaints received, 3932 grievances have been resolved till date. 777 grievances are pending because of various reasons, such as more information to be furnished by the grievants, responses awaited from the local Foreign Office/local companies/employers or other Departments and matters pending in courts, etc.
The Minister of State for the external Affairs Gen. Dr. V. K. Singh (Retd.) provided this information in reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.
*******
Indo-Nepal Ties
In
a statement laid on the table of the house the minister of external affairs
Shrimati Sushma Swaraj said that our unique, centuries-old civilizational ties
with Nepal, based on shared geography, history, culture, language and religion
and characterized by close political relations, wide-ranging economic
cooperation and deep-rooted people-to-people friendship, have been rejuvenated
since May 2014 with sustained interaction at the highest political level,
including Hon’ble Prime Minister’s two visits to Nepal in 2014. On 11 October
2015, Hon’ble Prime Minister called Prime Minister Shri K.P. Oli following his
election and conveyed his hearty congratulations. Hon’ble External Affairs
Minister Smt. Sushma Swaraj met the then Foreign Minister Shri Mahendra Bahadur
Pandey in New York on 30 September 2015. She hosted the Deputy Prime Minister
and Foreign Minister Shri Kamal Thapa on 18 October 2015.
Disaffected sections of the Nepalese population have been causing obstructions at the India-Nepal border from the Nepalese side, in protest against the Constitution promulgated by Nepal on 20 September 2015. There is no hindrance from the Indian side. Government of India has facilitated supplies wherever possible. Several thousand trucks have remained stranded for weeks and have been waiting on the Indian side of the border crossings. The primary crossing of Raxaul-Birgunj, which accounts for two-thirds of our trade, remains closed from their side for more than two months. However, every day several hundred cargo trucks have still been passing through those crossing points that are open and available. Despite constraints, Indian Oil Corporation has delivered POL supplies to the extent possible. Several hundreds of medical consignments, including by truck, were cleared through the India-Nepal border in November 2015. We are also assisting in re-routing stranded POL tankers and vehicles carrying medical supplies through other available crossing points, as also airlift.
India has always stood for peace, prosperity and progress of Nepal, which is also in India’s interest. Throughout the process of Constitution making in Nepal, India has supported a broad-based and inclusive Constitution. India has been consistently advising the Government of Nepal that the issues facing Nepal are political in nature, which cannot be resolved through force.
While continuing to advise and encourage all political parties to address the causes underlying the present state of confrontation credibly and effectively, India will continue to maintain close engagement and bilateral exchanges, as well as extend all assistance in accordance with the aspirations of the people of Nepal, for peace, stability and socio-economic development of the country. Government of India continues to facilitate supplies to the extent possible.
Disaffected sections of the Nepalese population have been causing obstructions at the India-Nepal border from the Nepalese side, in protest against the Constitution promulgated by Nepal on 20 September 2015. There is no hindrance from the Indian side. Government of India has facilitated supplies wherever possible. Several thousand trucks have remained stranded for weeks and have been waiting on the Indian side of the border crossings. The primary crossing of Raxaul-Birgunj, which accounts for two-thirds of our trade, remains closed from their side for more than two months. However, every day several hundred cargo trucks have still been passing through those crossing points that are open and available. Despite constraints, Indian Oil Corporation has delivered POL supplies to the extent possible. Several hundreds of medical consignments, including by truck, were cleared through the India-Nepal border in November 2015. We are also assisting in re-routing stranded POL tankers and vehicles carrying medical supplies through other available crossing points, as also airlift.
India has always stood for peace, prosperity and progress of Nepal, which is also in India’s interest. Throughout the process of Constitution making in Nepal, India has supported a broad-based and inclusive Constitution. India has been consistently advising the Government of Nepal that the issues facing Nepal are political in nature, which cannot be resolved through force.
While continuing to advise and encourage all political parties to address the causes underlying the present state of confrontation credibly and effectively, India will continue to maintain close engagement and bilateral exchanges, as well as extend all assistance in accordance with the aspirations of the people of Nepal, for peace, stability and socio-economic development of the country. Government of India continues to facilitate supplies to the extent possible.
********
Development Projects by
China
In
a statement laid on the table of the house the minister of external affairs
Shrimati Sushma Swaraj said that Government is aware that China continues to
undertake large scale development projects including construction of highways,
railways and high speed rail corridors in Chinese Provinces which are bordering
India. China is involved in the construction of or assistance to infrastructure
projects in our neighborhood including in Bangladesh, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal,
Pakistan and Sri Lanka. These infrastructure projects include power projects,
IT projects, housing projects, nuclear energy projects, and construction of
highways, motorways, railways, sea and air ports, export processing zones and
economic corridors.
Government has seen media reports that China plans to extend its rail link to Nepal which might involve building a tunnel under Mount Everest. Full financial and technical details of the proposal have not come to the attention of the Government.
India is an active development partner of its neighbours and is involved in various projects in these countries. India’s relations with other countries stand on their own footing and are independent of the relations of those countries with third countries. India is working with its neighbouring countries, including China, to enhance road, rail, air and shipping connectivity in the region.
Government has seen media reports that China plans to extend its rail link to Nepal which might involve building a tunnel under Mount Everest. Full financial and technical details of the proposal have not come to the attention of the Government.
India is an active development partner of its neighbours and is involved in various projects in these countries. India’s relations with other countries stand on their own footing and are independent of the relations of those countries with third countries. India is working with its neighbouring countries, including China, to enhance road, rail, air and shipping connectivity in the region.
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