To keep its promise of making passport issuing easier and faster for people, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has created the 'mPassport Police App,' which will make police verification easier and, most importantly, paperless.
Since Police Verification is an essential component of the Passport Issue System, the government has taken several initiatives to streamline and simplify the process.
On the occasion of Delhi Police Raising Day on Thursday (February 16, 2023), Minister of Home Affairs Amit Shah presented 350 mobile tablets to Special Branch/Delhi Police employees. With these mobile Tablets, police officers who go to individual places for verification can now quickly submit their reports digitally and paperlessly.
How will this help?
According to MEA, the process of verification through the mobile tablet is likely to reduce the verification period from 15 days to just 5 days, which is a significant step towards improving citizen services. This means that the passport issuance time will be reduced by about ten days. According to authorities, the mobile tablets issued are just within the jurisdiction of the Delhi Police.
To make things easier for citizens, the MEA has made revisions to the rules and issuing procedures.
Financial Express Online previously stated that, in collaboration with the Department of Posts, it has extended its passport service coverage, including the creation of Post Office Passport Seva Kendras (POPSK). These are located across the country.
There are now 555 Passport Kendras around the country, as well as 36 Passport Offices, 93 Passport Seva Kendra, and 426 Post Office Passport Seva Kendra.
There is also a centralised passport issuing system for not just Indian citizens but also the Diaspora, which means that 174 Indian Missions and Posts are now part of the Passport Seva Programme.
Technology and DigiLocker
The MEA has incorporated technology and digital systems into its operations including passport issuance. DigiLocker has also been included in the Passport Seva Program.
What is DigiLocker?
This allows individuals to submit their various documents in a paperless mode, eliminating the need to bring your original paperwork with you when you visit the Passport Kendra.
