Govt: E-passports to have advanced security features

The ministry of external affairs (MEA) is planning to issue chip enabled ePassports to Indian citizens with advanced security features featuring “contactless smart card technology, including an embedded Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) chip embedded in the front or back cover or page of the passport,” the government informed the Rajya Sabha on Thursday.

“The personal particulars of the applicants would be digitally stored in the chip, which would be embedded in the physical passport booklet (and that) in case anyone tampers with the chip the system shall be able to identify it, resulting in the failure of the passport authentication,” it added.

The government had, on Tuesday, announced in the Union Budget for 2022-23 “the issuance of ePassports using embedded chip and futuristic technology that will be rolled out in 2022-23 to

◗ THE GOVERNMENT had, on Tuesday, announced in the Union Budget for 2022-23 “the issuance of e-Passports using embedded chip and futuristic technology that will be rolled out in 2022-23 to enhance convenience for the citizens in their overseas travel

enhance convenience for the citizens in their overseas travel.”

The government, on Thursday, also said, “The chip characteristics are in line with the guidelines of International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), a specialised agency of the United Nations, which defines the standards for international travel documents, including the e-Passports. In addition to providing protection against fraudulent practices and tampering, the e-Passport, with its advanced security features, will substantially upgrade the existing passports and service to the citizens.”