Proposal to Issue E-Passports

The Government is planning to issue e-Passports to its citizens, starting in 2022-23.

Proposal to Issue e-Passports in India 2022
ई-पासपोर्ट जारी करने का प्रस्ताव

The Minister of State for External Affairs Shri V. Muraleedharan has replied in written form to the questions in the Parliament on 17th March 2022 regarding the Proposal to Issue e-Passports.

Yes. The Government is planning to issue e-Passports to its citizens, starting in 2022-23. This will be a combined paper and electronic passport, with an embedded Radio Frequency Identification (RFID chip) and antenna embedded as an inlay in the back cover.

The passport’s critical information will be printed on its data page as well as stored in the chip. The characteristics of the document and the chip are specified in International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) document 9303.

The data of the citizens for e-Passport would be used for the specific purpose only, i.e. issuance of the passport and related services. There is no secondary use of the data, thereby safeguarding the privacy concerns. Further transaction processes are authenticated by digital certificates and are cryptographically signed, Once captured, the data is stored in a secured repository, i.e. industry standard database. Relevant database security related controls are performed round the clock by Security Operations Centre.

Sample e-Passports are currently being tested and the full-scale manufacture and issue will commence with the completion of the technical eco-system and infrastructure. The said facility would be made available in phases at all Passport Offices across India.

Source: Rajya Sabha