Priyanka Tiwari
Share
Suspense crime, Digital Desk : The way Indians travel is set for a major upgrade. The government is rolling out e-passports, a modern and more secure version of the traditional passport booklet. This move brings India in line with over 120 other countries, promising a faster and safer experience at airports worldwide.
Here’s everything you need to know about this significant change.
What Exactly is an E-Passport?
Think of an e-passport as your familiar blue passport book with a smart, high-tech upgrade. Embedded within its pages is a small electronic chip, much like the one in your credit or debit card.
This chip stores your vital information electronically, including:
- A digital copy of the data on your passport's printed page (name, date of birth, etc.).
- Your biometric information, such as a digital photograph.
- A unique digital signature to verify the passport's authenticity.
You can identify an e-passport by the small, rectangular camera-like logo on the front cover, which is the international symbol for biometric travel documents.
The Key Benefits for Travelers
This technological leap offers several key advantages:
- Enhanced Security: The electronic chip makes the passport extremely difficult to forge or tamper with. If anyone tries to alter the data on the chip, it will be immediately detected, preventing identity theft and fraud.
- Faster Immigration: With an e-passport, you can use automated e-gates at many international airports. These gates scan your passport and use facial recognition to verify your identity in seconds, allowing you to bypass long manual immigration queues.
- Global Standard: By adopting this technology, Indian passports will be instantly compatible with immigration systems around the world, making for a smoother international travel experience.
- Durable and Secure Data: All your information is stored securely on the chip, protected from unauthorized access.
How Do I Apply for an E-Passport?
This is the most important point: You do not need to follow a special process to get an e-passport.
The rollout is being handled by the government, with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) managing the technology. The process works as follows:
- The application procedure remains exactly the same. You will continue to apply for a new passport or renew your existing one through the official Passport Seva website.
- As the new system is implemented, all newly issued and re-issued passports will automatically be e-passports.
- There is no need to exchange your current, valid passport for an e-passport. You can continue to use your existing passport until its expiry date.
In short, the next time you get a new passport, it will be a state-of-the-art e-passport, making your future travels more secure and convenient.
Read More: Dilip Buildcon Shares Jump Five Percent On Massive New Work Orders
