Swaraj reiterates commitment to provide passport services in timely manner

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Wednesday reiterated her ministry's commitment to provide passport services in a timely, assured and efficient manner for citizens across the country.

"It gives me great pleasure to felicitate all our Passport Issuing Authorities in India and abroad on the third Passport Seva Divas being held on the June 24. The day signifies the enactment of the Passports Act, 1967 and its enabling provisions of passport issuance. The Ministry of External Affairs and its subordinate office, the Central Passport Organisation, have reason to celebrate as well as to mark the event with renewed commitment to provide passport services in a timely, assured and efficient manner," Swaraj's message read.

"The past one year has been noteworthy in many respects. In particular, I am proud of the recent three ISO certifications of Passport Seva which is hallmark of international quality standards besides being the recipient of the National Award on e-Governance and Web Ratna Platinum

Icon Award. It was also the first time that the Ministry has taken passport services closer to citizens in a big way by way of organising Passport Seva Camps in far off places across the country," it added.

Swaraj further said that her government is committed to providing 'minimum government, maximum governance' and called for the Indian passport system to be 'worthy of emulation'.

"Our government is committed to the principle of 'minimum government, maximum governance' and delivering services to citizens in a convenient, accountable and transparent manner and putting in place more and more inclusive and robust mechanisms to achieve these objectives. Let us rededicate ourselves, on this important day, to take more effective steps with renewed vigour to make our passport issuance system worthy of emulation," her message said.