EAM S. Jaishankar Launches ‘Passport Seva 2.0’ and Rolls Out E‑Passports Nationwide.

On 25 June 2025, on the occasion of the 13th Passport Seva Divas, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar unveiled Passport Seva 2.0—coupled with the nationwide rollout of biometric chip-enabled e‑Passports—to streamline services and enhance security frameworks.

      - Passport Seva 2.0 is the upgraded version of India’s passport issuance platform, under the Passport Seva Programme (PSP). It introduces enhanced user experience with AI-backed services, improved digital integration, and secure workflow to handle increasing passport demand efficiently.

      - The initiative officially launched the issuance of chip-enabled electronic passports (e‑Passports), which are embedded with Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) chips and store encrypted biometric data, including the passport holder’s photograph and fingerprints. The nationwide rollout of e‑Passports began on 25 June 2025 and is now fully operational across all Passport Seva Kendras (PSKs) and Post Office Passport Seva Kendras (POPSKs) in India.

      - As part of the Passport Seva 2.0 initiative, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar introduced the EASE framework, which stands for Enhanced, AI-powered, Smooth, and Enhanced Security. Under this framework, the government aims to ensure digitized service delivery (E), integrate AI support in passport operations (A), facilitate seamless overseas travel through chip-enabled e‑Passports (S), and implement strong encrypted data safeguards to protect citizens' personal information (E).

Main Point :-   (i) The new PSP 2.0 aligns with India’s Digital India goals. Key integrations include the mPassport Seva app, DigiLocker connectivity, mPassport Police app, and an “apply-from-anywhere” feature. Passport Seva Kendra count grew from 77 in 2014 to 523 today.

      (ii) The newly launched e‑Passports are designed to accelerate immigration procedures by being fully compatible with ICAO-compliant e‑gates (International Civil Aviation Organization standards). These passports incorporate advanced encryption technologies such as Basic Access Control (BAC) and Extended Access Control (EAC), ensuring high levels of data security and authenticity. This significantly helps in minimizing cases of passport fraud, forgery, and identity theft. Importantly, existing traditional passports will remain valid and usable until their designated expiry date, ensuring a smooth transition for all passport holders.

(iii) Jaishankar praised the dedicated work of passport officers and international mission staff. He urged all issuing authorities to uphold quality, accessibility, reliability, and transparency in passport services.