Passport Seva Project
Passport Seva Project
The Pilot for the Passport Seva Project (PSP) was launched in May, 2010 and the Government had assessed the functioning of the Project. The Third Party Audit Agency (3PAA) – Standardization, Testing and Quality Certification (STQC), an attached office of the Department of Electronics and Information Technology (DeitY), Government of India had carried out a detailed technical appraisal of the Project and given a go-ahead before the Project was fully rolled out on 12th June, 2012. The PSP is being successfully run in Public-Private-Partnership mode with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) as the Service Provider. After the nation-wide rollout, the Project is currently in the Operations and Maintenance Phase. Since the launch of the Pilot in May 2010, 3.69 Crore passport services have been rendered till 30th June, 2016,
There is no separate budget allocation for Passport Seva Project. However, Rs. 730.04 Crore has been allocated for the Central Passport Organisation for FY 2016-17 which includes expenditure to be incurred for the operation and maintenance of the PSP.
With the implementation of Passport Seva Project, Seventy Seven Passport Seva Kendras (PSKs) with best-in-class amenities were set up across the country as extended arms of the 37 Passport Offices (PO), thus providing extended reach to passport applicants in various States/Union Territories initially. Subsequently, to provide more access points for passport services, the Ministry had decided to set up 19 additional Passport Seva Laghu Kendras (PSLK). Out of these 19 PSLKs, 12 have already started functioning in various States and Union Territories till June 2016. The Regional Passport Offices are now rendering passport-related services to the citizens in a timely, transparent, more accessible manner and in a comfortable environment through streamlined processes.
The Government has taken various steps to ensure satisfactory service to the citizens by PSKs. The entire passport issuance process is online. The Passport Portal (www.passportindia.gov.in) is accessible to anyone, anywhere and anytime. The applicants apply for passport service online, pay Passport Fee also through the Portal and visit the PSK at the appointed date and time. Applicants’ presence in person at the PSK enables the Passport Issuing Authority to capture their photographs and biometrics to avoid the chances of impersonation. The applicants also get full opportunity to see and affirm their personal particulars to be entered in the passport to avoid unnecessary hassels. The objective behind receiving applicants with prior appointment is to reduce waiting time to the minimum. Status of applications can be tracked by the applicants through the passport website or through mPassport Seva mobile application. An e-mail based helpdesk facility and a 24x7 National Call Centre have been set up to provide requisite information to citizens in 17 languages. Periodic SMS messages are sent to the citizen intimating the various stages of process of passport application including date of police verification and dispatch of passport. The number of public dealing counters has been increased from the erstwhile 350 to 1610 in the new system and public dealing hours have gone up from 4 hours to 7 hours a day. In order to bridge the digital divide, more than one lakh internet enabled Common Services Centres (CSCs) in rural areas have been authorized to facilitate online passport application service to citizens at a nominal charge not exceeding Rs. 100/-.
The Government has recently simplified the process of issuance of passport in order to provide satisfactory services from PSKs and make it more expedient and convenient. The Ministry of External Affairs has made two major changes recently that have expedited the process for first time passport applicants as well as made it more convenient to secure an online appointment at the local Passport Seva Kendras (PSKs). As per these changes, the first time passport applicants who furnish Aadhaar Card, Electoral Photo Identity Card (EPIC), PAN Card and an affidavit of non-criminality in the prescribed format, will get faster service, without payment of additional fees, subject to successful online validation of Aadhaar and other databases, if required. The passports under this liberal dispensation are issued on Post-Police Verification basis.
The second measure pertains to securing online Appointments for submission of passport applications at PSKs. The new provision is allowing applicants to choose any appointment date from the earliest five available dates (working days) for scheduling/rescheduling an appointment for passport related services. Earlier, the System used to offer only one available date to the applicant for seeking appointment for passport related services. These measures have simplified the process of passport issuance and reduced the difficulties faced by the citizens.
In order to meet the growing demands and provide the Appointments smoothly, Passport Melas are being organised at the PSKs and to secure greater reach in order to provide service at the door, Passport Seva Camps are also being held in the remote and distant areas by PSKs under the supervision of respective POs.
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.
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New Passport Seva Kendras
The Government has granted approval to open 7 new Passport Seva Kendras (PSK) in addition to the 89 PSKs that are working across the country. These are at Indore (Madhya Pradesh), Udaipur (Rajasthan), Solapur (Maharashtra), Siliguri, Kharagpur, Branch Secretariat Kolkata (West Bengal) and Leh (Jammu & Kashmir).
No expenditure was incurred during 2014-15 and 2015-16 for the opening of PSK, Udaipur. The Ministry is working on refurbishment, civil/electrical works, air conditioning and procurement of IT equipments/network installations etc. to set up the PSK. The anticipated expenditure to set up the PSK Udaipur would work out to be approximately 2.86 Crores. After completion of relevant works, it is expected that PSK, Udaipur would be made functional by the end of November, 2016.
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.
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Inhuman Behaviour with Indians Abroad
Information regarding Indian workers holding ECR Passports, going for overseas employment to 18 notified Emigration Check Required (ECR) countries (Afghanistan, Bahrain, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Oman, Qatar, North Sudan, South Sudan, Syria, Thailand, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Yemen), is maintained by this Ministry. As per information available with the Indian Missions/Posts in ECR countries, there is no general pattern to indicate an increase in cases of exploitation/ torture of Indian workers. Details of complaints received during the last three years and current year are at Annexure.
Most of the complaints received from Indian workers, including domestic workers, from time to time, are generally in the nature of non-payment/ delayed payment or underpayment of salaries, long working hours, inadequate living conditions, physical harassment, non-renewal of visa and labour card on time, refusal to pay for the medical treatment, denial of leave and air-ticket to the hometown on completion of contract period, forcible custody of Passport and Visa, refusal of leave or ‘exit/re-entry permits’/‘final exit visa’ etc. No specific complaint of sexual abuse has been reported by the Missions.
Such complaints are addressed by the Indian Missions by taking them up with the concerned foreign authorities, Foreign Employers or the officials of the Labour Ministry of that country.
Whenever the Indian Missions are approached by any Indian national in distress, the same is followed up, at various levels, with the authorities concerned in the Governments of the respective country. In addition, Government of India has signed MoUs with 6 Gulf countries, namely UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Malaysia. As per these MoUs, the host country will take measures for protection and welfare of the workers in organized sector. The recruitment and terms of employment will be in conformity with the laws of both the countries.
These MOUs are renewed / signed afresh, from time to time, during which process any modifications are duly considered for inclusion.
The Government of India has set up Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF) in all the Indian Missions/consulates abroad to meet contingency expenditure incurred by them for carrying out various welfare activities for overseas Indian citizens who are in distress. The objectives of the ICWF include:-
(i) Boarding and lodging for distressed Overseas Indians in need;
(ii) Extending emergency medical care to the Overseas Indians in need;
(iii) Providing air passage to stranded Overseas Indians in need;
(iv) Providing initial legal assistance to the Overseas Indians in deserving cases;
(v) Expenditure on incidentals and for airlifting the mortal remains to India or local cremation/burial of the deceased Overseas Indians in such cases where the sponsor is unable or unwilling to do so as per the contract and the family is unable to meet the cost;
(vi) Providing the payment of penalties in respect of Indian nationals for illegal stay in the host country where prima facie the worker is not at fault;
(vii) Providing the payment of small fines/penalties for the release of Indian nationals in jail/detention centre;
The Ministry has set up a 24X7 Helpline ‘Overseas Workers Resource Centre (OWRC)’ based in Gurgaon, Haryana which provides information and guidance on all matters and problems pertaining to overseas employment of Indian nationals. Indian Workers Resource Centre (IWRC) set up in Dubai by Embassy of India, in UAE, provides guidance and counseling on all matters pertaining to overseas Indian workers in UAE. Shelter homes for distressed Indian nationals, have been set up in Malaysia, UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. These shelter homes provide free boarding and lodging to overseas Indians in distress pending their repatriation.
Government of India have also started 24x7 online Helpline-‘Madad’- for lodging the grievances of the emigrants, which are attended to on priority basis.
1
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.
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India as 35th member of Missile Technology Control Regime
India joined the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) as its 35th member on 27th June 2016. MTCR membership is expected to ease the access to high technology for India’s space programme. It will help us to move up the technology value chain by facilitating tie-ups for Make in India including in the defence sector. India’s entry into the regime would be mutually beneficial in the furtherance of international non-proliferation objectives.
Government has taken steps to streamline the process for grant of No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for export of indigenous weapon systems including permissible missile systems. Units producing such items are being encouraged to put aside a part of their production for export after meeting indigenous demand. A Strategy for Defence Exports has already been put out in public domain.
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.
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Complaints / Petitions in Indian Missions
As part of good governance efforts, the Ministry of External Affairs launched an online Consular Grievances Management System named MADAD, on 21st February 2015, to extend a helping hand to Indians abroad requiring consular assistance and to redress their grievances. 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. In addition to the Ministry, all our Missions and Posts abroad and the MEA’s Branch Secretariats in Chennai, Guwahati, Hyderabad and Kolkata, have been linked to this portal.
A Call Centre has also been launched, in Hindi and English languages, to assist consular grievants by advising them about how to register their grievances on the Madad Portal and if necessary register their grievances on their behalf.
An Overseas Workers Resource Centre (OWRC) with a multi-lingual 24x7 helpline has been operational since 2008 and provides information to intending migrants and overseas workers on all aspects of overseas employment including requirements to obtain a legitimate work permit/visa for employment abroad. Five Migrant Resource Centres (MRCs) have been set up in Kochi, Hyderabad, Gurgaon, Chennai and Lucknow to provide information and counselling for intending migrants about the procedure for legal migration and precautions to be taken while migrating. An Indian Workers Resource Center (IWRC) has been operational in Dubai, UAE since 2010.
So far Madad portal has registered over 11,300 grievances, out of which over 7,360 have been resolved. A table indicating the country-wise status of grievances is attached at Annexure.
2
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.
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Biometric Details for Visa
The Ministry of Home Affairs has implemented a Mission Mode Project on Immigration, Visa and Foreigners Registration & Tracking (IVFRT). This Project is a multi-Ministry project which brings together a number of immigration, visa and registration tasks on to one IT platform, for greater control and efficiency. The project also has provision for biometric enrolment and authentication.
As on date, out of our 178 Missions/Posts abroad, biometric enrolment system has been implemented in 79 Indian Missions/Posts. A list of these 79 Indian Missions/Posts abroad is attached as Annexure-I.
The Government of India launched the e-Tourist Visa (e-TV) facility on November 27, 2014 with a view to simplify the visa process for foreign tourists visiting India. The scheme has since been extended to 150 countries. A list of such countries is attached as Annexure-II. Biometric details of the foreigners visiting India on e-Tourist Visas (e-TV) are captured on arrival at 16 designated Indian airports.
ANNEXURE-I
Biometric Implemented Missions
S.NO
|
Country Name
|
Mission Name
|
S.NO
|
Country Name
|
Mission Name
|
1
|
AFGANISTAN
|
KANDHAR
|
41
|
NETHERLANDS
|
THE HAGUE
|
2
|
AFGANISTAN
|
JALALABAD
|
42
|
NIGER
|
NIAMEY
|
3
|
AFGANISTAN
|
HERAT
|
43
|
NIGERIA
|
ABUJA
|
4
|
AFGANISTAN
|
KABUL
|
44
|
NIGERIA
|
LAGOS
|
5
|
AFGANISTAN
|
MAZAR-E-SHARIEF
|
45
|
PALESTINE
|
GAZA RAMALLAH
|
6
|
ALGERIA
|
ALGIERS
|
46
|
PERU
|
LIMA
|
7
|
ANGOLA
|
LUANDA
|
47
|
PHILIPPINES
|
MANILA
|
8
|
AUSTRALIA
|
PERTH
|
48
|
POLAND
|
WARSAW
|
9
|
AUSTRALIA
|
CANBERRA
|
49
|
QATAR
|
DOHA
|
10
|
AUSTRALIA
|
SYDNEY
|
50
|
REUNION ISLAND
|
ST. DENIS
|
11
|
AUSTRALIA
|
MELBOURNE
|
51
|
ROMANIA
|
BUCHAREST
|
12
|
AZERBEIJAN
|
BAKU
|
52
|
SAUDI ARABIA
|
RIYADH
|
13
|
BULGARIA
|
SOFIA
|
53
|
SAUDI ARABIA
|
JEDDAH
|
14
|
CHILE
|
SANTIAGO
|
54
|
SENEGAL
|
DAKAR
|
15
|
CHINA
|
HONG KONG
|
55
|
SERBIA & MONTENEGRO
|
BELGRADE
|
16.
|
CUBA
|
HAVANA
|
56
|
SLOVAKIA
|
BRATISLAVA
|
17
|
DENMARK
|
COPENHAGEN
|
57
|
SURINAME
|
PARAMARIBO
|
18
|
EGYPT
|
CAIRO
|
58
|
SWEDEN
|
STOCKHOLM
|
19
|
GREECE
|
ATHENS
|
59
|
SWITZERLAND
|
GENEVA
|
20
|
ICELAND
|
REYKJAVIK
|
60
|
TANZANIA
|
ZANZIBAR
|
21
|
INDONESIA
|
JAKARTA
|
61
|
TANZANIA
|
DAR-ES-SALAAM
|
22
|
INDONESIA
|
MEDAN
|
62
|
THAILAND
|
BANGKOK
|
23
|
INDONESIA
|
BALI
|
63
|
TRINIDAD & TOBAGO
|
PORT OF SPAIN
|
24
|
IRAN
|
BANDAR ABBAS
|
64
|
TURKEY
|
ANKARA
|
25
|
IRAN
|
TEHRAN
|
65
|
TURKEY
|
ISTANBUL
|
26
|
IRAN
|
ZAHIDAN
|
66
|
TURKMENISTAN
|
ASHGABAT
|
27
|
JAMAICA
|
KINGSTON
|
67
|
UK
|
BIRMINGHAM
|
28
|
JORDAN
|
AMMAN
|
68
|
UK
|
EDINBURGH
|
29
|
KAZAKSTAN
|
ALMATY
|
69
|
UK
|
LONDON
|
30
|
KOREA (SOUTH)
|
SEOUL
|
70
|
UKRAINE
|
KYIV
|
31
|
KUWAIT
|
KUWAIT
|
71
|
USA
|
CHICAGO
|
32
|
KYRGYSTAN
|
BISHKEK
|
72
|
USA
|
HOUSTON
|
33
|
LATVIA
|
RIGA
|
73
|
USA
|
ATLANTA
|
34
|
MADAGASCAR
|
ANTANANARIVO
|
74
|
UZBEKISTAN
|
TASHKENT
|
35
|
MALAYSIA
|
KUALA LUMPUR
|
75
|
VENEZUELA
|
CARACAS
|
36
|
MAURITIUS
|
PORT LOUIS
|
76
|
YEMEN
|
SANA A
|
37
|
MONGOLIA
|
ULAAN BAATAR
|
77
|
ARMENIA
|
YEREVAN
|
38
|
MYANMAR
|
MANDALAY
|
78
|
ZAMBIA
|
LUSAKA
|
39
|
MYANMAR
|
YANGON
|
79
|
ZIMBABWE
|
HARARE
|
40
|
NAMIBIA
|
WINDHOEK
|
Annexure-II
List of countries extended e-Tourist Visa Scheme
01
|
Andorra
|
51
|
Laos
|
101
|
Thailand
|
02
|
Anguilla
|
52
|
Latvia
|
102
|
Tonga
|
03
|
Antigua & Barbuda
|
53
|
Liechtenstein
|
103
|
Turks & Caicos Island
|
04
|
Argentina
|
54
|
Lithuania
|
104
|
Tuvalu
|
05
|
Armenia
|
55
|
Luxembourg
|
105
|
UAE
|
06
|
Aruba
|
56
|
Malta
|
106
|
Ukraine
|
07
|
Australia
|
57
|
Malaysia
|
107
|
United Kingdom
|
08
|
Bahamas
|
58
|
Marshall Islands
|
108
|
USA
|
09
|
Barbados
|
59
|
Mauritius
|
109
|
Uruguay
|
10
|
Belgium
|
60
|
Mexico
|
110
|
Vanuatu
|
11
|
Belize
|
61
|
Micronesia
|
111
|
Vatican City-Holy See
|
12
|
Bolivia
|
62
|
Monaco
|
112
|
Venezuela
|
13
|
Brazil
|
63
|
Mongolia
|
113
|
Vietnam
|
14
|
Cambodia
|
64
|
Montenegro
|
114
|
Albania
|
15
|
Canada
|
65
|
Montserrat
|
115
|
Austria
|
16
|
Cayman Island
|
66
|
Mozambique
|
116
|
Bosnia & Herzegovina
|
17
|
Chile
|
67
|
Myanmar
|
117
|
Botswana
|
18
|
China
|
68
|
Nauru
|
118
|
Brunei
|
19
|
China-SAR Hong Kong
|
69
|
Netherlands
|
119
|
Bulgaria
|
20
|
China- SAR Macau
|
70
|
New Zealand
|
120
|
Cape Verde
|
21
|
Colombia
|
71
|
Nicaragua
|
121
|
Comoros
|
22
|
Cook Islands
|
72
|
Niue Island
|
122
|
Cote d’Ivoire
|
23
|
Costa Rica
|
73
|
Norway
|
123
|
Croatia
|
24
|
Cuba
|
74
|
Oman
|
124
|
Czech Republic
|
25
|
Djibouti
|
75
|
Palau
|
125
|
Denmark
|
26
|
Dominica
|
76
|
Palestine
|
126
|
Eritrea
|
27
|
Dominican Republic
|
77
|
Panama
|
127
|
Gabon
|
28
|
East Timor
|
78
|
Papua New Guinea
|
128
|
Gambia
|
29
|
Ecuador
|
79
|
Paraguay
|
129
|
Ghana
|
30
|
El Salvador
|
80
|
Peru
|
130
|
Greece
|
31
|
Estonia
|
81
|
Philippines
|
131
|
Guinea
|
32
|
Fiji
|
82
|
Poland
|
132
|
Iceland
|
33
|
Finland
|
83
|
Portugal
|
133
|
Lesotho
|
34
|
France
|
84
|
Republic of Korea
|
134
|
Liberia
|
35
|
Georgia
|
85
|
Republic of Macedonia
|
135
|
Madagascar
|
36
|
Germany
|
86
|
Russia
|
136
|
Malawi
|
37
|
Grenada
|
87
|
Saint Christopher & Nevis
|
137
|
Moldova
|
38
|
Guatemala
|
88
|
Saint Lucia
|
138
|
Namibia
|
39
|
Guyana
|
89
|
Saint Vincent & the Grenadines
|
139
|
Romania
|
40
|
Haiti
|
90
|
Samoa
|
140
|
San Marino
|
41
|
Honduras
|
91
|
Seychelles
|
141
|
Senegal
|
42
|
Hungary
|
92
|
Singapore
|
142
|
Serbia
|
43
|
Indonesia
|
93
|
Slovenia
|
143
|
Slovakia
|
44
|
Ireland
|
94
|
Solomon Islands
|
144
|
South Africa
|
45
|
Israel
|
95
|
Spain
|
145
|
Swaziland
|
46
|
Jamaica
|
96
|
Sri Lanka
|
146
|
Switzerland
|
47
|
Japan
|
97
|
Suriname
|
147
|
Tajikistan
|
48
|
Jordan
|
98
|
Sweden
|
148
|
Trinidad & Tobago
|
49
|
Kenya
|
99
|
Taiwan
|
149
|
Zambia
|
50
|
Kiribati
|
100
|
Tanzania
|
150
|
Zimbabwe
|
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.
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Nuclear Suppliers Group Membership
India submitted an application for the membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) on 12 May 2016 reflecting the progress in its engagement with the NSG that began in 2004. The application was preceded by extensive technical-level outreach with the NSG in Vienna. Government also reached out at the senior official and political level to all NSG members in their capitals.
The NSG’s annual Plenary meeting in Seoul (June 23-24, 2016) discussed India’s membership but concluded without a consensus decision on the matter. India is not a member of the NSG and, therefore, not privy to the Group’s internal discussions. However, it is understood that while no nation explicitly opposed India’s membership, one country raised procedural objections ostensibly on grounds of India’s non-NPT status. A few other countries raised issues regarding the process for India’s participation in the NSG. The broad sentiment was to take the matter forward. Consultations on the issue of membership are ongoing within the NSG.
Government continues to engage with all NSG members for an early decision on India’s application.
It is important for us to be part of the “rule making” in the NSG rather than be in a position of “rule taking”. Membership of the NSG would enable India to have enhanced and uninterrupted access to nuclear technology, fuel and materials required for its expanding civil nuclear programme. It would create a predictable environment for the large investments required for setting up nuclear power plants in India, inter alia, to meet India’s Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC) pledge of 40% of its power capacity coming from non-fossil sources by 2030.
The Minister of External Affairs Smt. Sushma Swaraj provided this information in reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.
The NSG’s annual Plenary meeting in Seoul (June 23-24, 2016) discussed India’s membership but concluded without a consensus decision on the matter. India is not a member of the NSG and, therefore, not privy to the Group’s internal discussions. However, it is understood that while no nation explicitly opposed India’s membership, one country raised procedural objections ostensibly on grounds of India’s non-NPT status. A few other countries raised issues regarding the process for India’s participation in the NSG. The broad sentiment was to take the matter forward. Consultations on the issue of membership are ongoing within the NSG.
Government continues to engage with all NSG members for an early decision on India’s application.
It is important for us to be part of the “rule making” in the NSG rather than be in a position of “rule taking”. Membership of the NSG would enable India to have enhanced and uninterrupted access to nuclear technology, fuel and materials required for its expanding civil nuclear programme. It would create a predictable environment for the large investments required for setting up nuclear power plants in India, inter alia, to meet India’s Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC) pledge of 40% of its power capacity coming from non-fossil sources by 2030.
The Minister of External Affairs Smt. Sushma Swaraj provided this information in reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.
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