MEA to launch 'Passport Seva Camp' programme

The Ministry of External Affairs is going to launch country-wide 'Passport Seva Camp' programme from Saturday.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has approved a country-wide 'Passport Seva Camp' programme commencing tomorrow.

The programme is aimed at providing passport services to people located far away from Passport Seva Kendras (PSKs) and is yet another citizen-centric measure taken by the Ministry of External Affairs in extending public services closer home.

The passport service network within India today comprises 37 Passport Offices, Headquarters of the Ministry of External Affairs (CPV Division) and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands Administration. This network has been vastly expanded with the operationalisation of 77 PSKs as extended arms of passport offices.

For Indians living abroad, issuance of passports and other related documents is done by 183 Indian missions and posts.

In the new, modernized system, the citizens fill online the passport application, make payment and take appointment for personal visit to the concerned PSK to give their photographs and biometrics in connection with submission of passport applications.

The modality for acceptance of passport applications at the camps would be same as that in the PSKs. It is advisable that the applicants carry two photographs with light background to meet any exigency.

The passport officials would be deputed at the camps to check the documents and guide the applicants for smooth submission process.

More information about the camps is available on the Passport Portal www.passportindia.gov.in.

In the month of October, the Passport Seva Camps are planned at locations such as Agra, Allahabad, Cuddalore, Daman, Indore, Jamshedpur, Karwar, Karimnagar, Lakshadweep, Siliguri and Warangal. Based on the public response, the Ministry of External Affairs intends to hold such camps periodically across the country in the coming months.