Citizens can now submit various documents required for passport services in a paperless mode

With a citizen-centric approach and to provide the passport service experience in a paperless mode, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has now successfully integrated into the Digi Locker platform of the government.

Integration of the passport service with the Digi Locker platform will enable citizens to submit various documents required for passport services in a paperless mode, Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan said during the inauguration of the facility on Friday.

Recounting the success of the Passport Seva Programme, he said that it had brought in a huge transformation towards delivery of passport services in the country. “This has been a sea change during the last 6 years. The monthly submission of applications crossed 1 million mark for the first time in 2017,” Muraleedharan pointed out.

Informing that more than 7 crore passports have been issued through the Passport Seva project till date, the MoS for External Affairs said that the government has taken several significant steps to improve the service delivery experience for citizens.

He pointed out that not only had the work of simplifying passport rules been completed, but efforts were also on to take passport services closer to the door of the citizens. The launch of the Passport Seva Kendras at head post-offices was a process in that direction, he said.

In order to ensure that the Indian diaspora abroad can avail passport services smoothly, 150 Indian Missions and posts abroad into the Passport Seva project.

Sanjay Bhattacharyya, Secretary (CPV&OIA), Ministry of External Affairs said the Passport Seva Project had made great strides in recent years, becoming a foremost example of E-governance and citizen-centric services of the government.

Targeted at the idea of paperless governance, Digi Locker is a platform for issuance and verification of documents, certificates in a digital way thus eliminating the use of physical documents. Organizations that are registered with Digi Locker, and these are increasing every day, can push electronic copies of documents and certificates directly into the citizens’ lockers.

According to Bhattacharyya, the following documents will be accepted from the Digi Locker providing passport and related services: certificates and mark sheets, PAN card, Driving License, Voter ID card, and E-Aadhar.

Citizens who are applying for passport related services can provide the link to their specific documents uploaded in the digi Locker and need not bring their original documents with them, he added.

Ajay Prakash Sawhney, Secretary, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, said the Digi Locker has been a significant contribution from the ministry towards common shared infrastructure for E-governance across sectors, states and cities in rural areas. The Digi Locker platform has grown significantly over the past 3 years with nearly 5.5 crore users.