NEW DELHI — Getting a passport will now be much easier for Indian applicants with the government launching a Passport Seva App on Tuesday. The app, which was launched by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, makes the process for obtaining a passport much easier.

Swaraj, while addressing the officials of several Passport Seva Kendras and members of the Ministry of External Affairs on the occasion of Passport Seva Diwas, stated that the two new schemes — Passport application from anywhere in India and filling passport application forms from mobile phones — would now make the procedure for obtaining passports simpler.

While terming it as a "passport revolution", the minister said that the simplified new passport application rules would make things much easier for hundreds of Indian citizens willing to undertake a Haj pilgrimage.

Swaraj, while felicitating all Passport Issuing Authorities in India and abroad on Passport Seva Day, called on the authorities to efficiently deliver all passport and ancillary services.

The Ministry of External Affairs and its subordinate office — Central Passport Organization — marked the day (June 26) with renewed commitment to provide better passport and other related services in a timely, assured, transparent and efficient manner.

In her message, Swaraj said, the year 2017 will be remembered for the commendable growth of nearly 19% in passport and other related services, while adding that the monthly submission of applications crossed the one million mark for the first time.

She also stated that the ministry took significant steps to build efficient passport delivery systems. “Apart from simplifying the passport rules, it worked towards taking passport services closer to the citizens’ doorsteps,” she said in her message.

“We have 93 Passport Seva Kendras (PSK) serving the populace. We strengthened our partnership with the Department of Posts to render passport-related services by setting up Post Office Passport Seva Kendras (POPSK) in Head Post Offices and other Post Offices...

“More than 12,000 appointments are being released for passport applicants at these POPSK to enable them to complete all formalities prior to the issue of the passport. Our efforts have helped reduced the distance required to travel by an applicant to get a passport,” the message stated.

“We have eased the process of getting a passport under the ‘Tatkaal’ scheme by removing the requirement of submitting a verification certificate. We have made excellent use of ‘Digital India’ to provide a mobile platform for submissions of passport applications.

“The process of police verification has been simplified and made citizen friendly. We are working toward integrating our Embassies and Consulates into the Passport Seva Project. We are working towards providing an effective, transparent and accountable delivery system in the years ahead.

“Let us re-dedicate ourselves to work towards providing good governance and pledge to put in place more inclusive and robust mechanisms to achieve our objective of building a new India,” Swaraj said in her message.

Jeddah Consulate issues 84,068 passports in 2017

Meanwhile, the Consulate General of India, Jeddah, said in a statement that it issued 84,068 passports during the year 2017 and 49,753 passports between January to May 2018. Besides this, the Consulate also provided 21,532 miscellaneous passport services during 2017 and 5,820 between January to May 2018 such as issuance of police clearance certificates, birth registration, emergency certificates and misc. services.

With the sustained efforts of the Consulate officials, the passport issuance time was brought down in mid-2017 considerably to 3 working days. It is the constant endeavor of the Consulate to keep improving the passport services for the Indian citizens. — Agencies/SG