IfG.CC -
Institute for eGovernment

The use of e-passports, which could not be faked, would increase security of the immigration documents, Minister Patrialis said.

The new e-passport will have an electronic chip embedded inside the book for a more accurate identification process.

The electronic-based information technology adopts and follows the security standard of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

Those who intend to leave the country will be able to also obtain a passport with biometric data as a travel document.

The identification card contains an electronic database, individual cryptographic keys, electronic digital signature and certificates for identity.

Inaugurating the PSK at Muralinagar, Chief Passport Officer Muktesh Kumar Pardeshi said the kendra, a state-of-the-art facility, would process initial work within three days while the passport would be delivered in less than 10 days after police verification.

"We will meet the target of rolling out 600-million UIDs by 2014," Nilekani said at the NASSCOM India Leadership Forum 2011.

The pace of enrolment for unique identification numbers is gathering momemtum, Nilekani said, adding in the next few days the enrolment processing would reach the two-million mark.

Biometric details like fingerprints of all 10 fingers of the hand, iris and photograph of the chief minister were taken.

The enrolment drive in the state will soon begin after the UID enrolment of the chief minister. The unique identification number project will assign a UID number to each individual in the country that would remain a permanent identifier right from birth to death of the individual.

The PSP envisages setting up of 77 Passport Seva Kendras (PSKs) across the country, a Call Centre operating 24X7 in 18 languages, and a centralised nationwide computerised system for the issuance of passports. So far, 13 PSKs have been successfully launched including one each at Chandigarh and Ludhiana (Punjab).

Figure accounts for 50% of the applications submitted by individuals, industries

Around three lakh e-passes for movement during the COVID-19 lockdown have been issued in the last one week, after the introduction of the Tamil Nadu e-pass system (https://tnepass.tnega.org/), according to the government.

The figure accounts for 50% of the applications submitted by individuals and industries. About six lakh applications have been processed, of which 4.5 lakh are from individuals and the rest from industries.

Common citizens struggle to get e-passes, even for genuine reasons, but some travel agencies and cab operators get them issued easily through ‘connections’ at district collectorates and Greater Chennai Corporation.

This reporter, seeking an e-pass for return of stranded relatives, marriage and a health emergency, approached three taxi operators in Chennai who promised to get the document for Rs 250-Rs 300 per head over and above the base fare (Rs 10-Rs 20 depending on the vehicle model).

The 12-day lockdown imposed in Chennai, Thiruvallur, Kancheepuram and Chengalpet districts from Friday is giving the Tamil Nadu e-Governance Agency a tough time. Problems for the agency, which is working with one-third staff, have multiplied as companies and individuals have made multiple requests for passes.

“Each organization is supposed to make only one application. In that they can include names of even 5,000 people, if those many are permitted to work. Instead, several companies are submitting multiple applications, even hundreds in a few cases, and that has choked the whole system,” a senior official with the agency told TOI.

Speaking on the occasion, A K Sobti, project director, PSK, said these kendras would help to process one crore passport across the country in the next six years. "This year alone sixty lakh have applied through PSK and there is 20% increase of application per year," he said.

Existing e-passes suspended; ID cards sufficient for employees of exempted sectors

E-passes issued earlier for movement within the Greater Chennai police limits stand suspended from June 19 to 30, the Tamil Nadu e-Government Agency (TNeGA) said on Thursday. Those with e-passes in permitted sectors such as essential goods manufacturing, continuous processing industries and essential services “should apply for fresh passes.”

The Uttarakhand government on Monday decided that the e-pass issued either by the Char Dham Devasthanam Board would be sufficient for the devotees coming to the Char Dham shrines and they would not be required be register themselves on the Smart City portal. Till now, the pilgrims had to complete both the formalities to come to the state for the Char Dham yatra.

Moreover, as per the latest SOP issued by the Uttarakhand government, the Covid curfew has been extended in the state till October 19. For Char Dham yatra, it mentions that those who have spent 15 days after the double dose of vaccination can get their e-pass and undertake the yatra. However, those pilgrims who have not been administered the first or second dose of vaccination would be required to produce an RT-PCR/TrueNat/CBNAAT/RAT Covid negative report (not before 72 hours of the arrival time).

"The industry, government and academia need to collaborate to evolve standards for biometrics," Nandita Jain Mahajan, IBM's India South chief privacy and information security office, said during the India Preparatory Meeting: Biometrics and Data Protection, held here Thursday. The two-day event was organized by the Data Security Council of India, a self-regulatory organization led by Nasscom.

The project envisages delivery of passport services in a timely, transparent and more accessible, reliable manner through streamlined processes in the first Public Private Partnership (PPP) venture of its kind in the country.

Here is some good news for Bangaloreans: You can now get a passport within three working days!

The Ministry of External Affairs in association with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has chosen Bangalore as one of the two cities across the country for implementing the Passport Seva project, which is meant to simplify the process of issuing passport through automation. The pilot project will kick off by mid-2009, said Regional Passport Officer (Bangalore) R Ravindra.

This will be the third time the external affairs ministry's project - a major e-governance initiative - will not meet its launch date. Officials are blaming software glitches for the delay.

To be honest not much has changed sine then and now – even today it takes minimum of 3-4 weeks from the time you apply.

India’s electronic passport project has hit a roadblock as the Amsterdam-based company Gelmalto, selected for supplying chips came under scanner for its alleged role in smart card rollout in Pakistan.

The Ministry of External Affairs has sought a fresh security clearance from the Ministry of Home Affairs for Gemalto, which was selected to supply chips for the pilot project in 2008. The MNC was reported to be impementing smart card project in Pakistan.

Talking to reporters Muktesh Pardesi, joint secretary, central passport authority, said few countries around the world had so far issued e-passports, where important data of individuals was stored on micro-chips along with the regular documentation.