Ministry of External Affairs Launches Upgraded Passport Seva Programme and e-Passport

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has successfully rolled out the upgraded version of its Passport Seva Programme (PSP), marking a major milestone in passport service delivery both in India and abroad.

Key Components of the Rollout

• Passport Seva Programme (PSP V2.0)
• Global Passport Seva Programme (GPSP V2.0)
• E-passport for Indian citizens — both within India and overseas

The MEA described the simultaneous introduction of e-passports and PSP V2.0 as a “significant milestone” in its ongoing efforts to modernize citizen services.

About the E-Passport

• The e-passport is a hybrid document combining traditional paper and electronic features.
• It contains an embedded Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) chip and an antenna that securely store the holder’s personal data.
• The design adheres to International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards to ensure global interoperability and enhanced security.

Technological Advancements in PSP V2.0

• Incorporates AI-powered chat and voice bots to assist citizens in:
  • Filling out applications
  • Addressing enquiries and grievances related to passport services
• Enables faster, more transparent, and user-friendly passport processing.
• Implementation Details
• PSP V2.0 was implemented across:
  • All 37 Passport Offices in India
  • 93 Passport Seva Kendras (PSKs)
  • 450 Post Office Passport Seva Kendras (POPSKs)
  • Implementation completed on 26 May 2025
• GPSP V2.0 was rolled out across Indian Embassies and Consulates worldwide on 28 October 2025.

Source: TH