What is e-Passport How does it work, what are the benefits

Nirmala Sitharaman, India’s Finance Minister, made the announcement in the 2022-23 Union Budget. In the wake of this, the e-passport debate heated up. Despite the fact that e-passports have been discussed for some time, the urgency has increased recently. You may have many questions about e-passports in your head if you find yourself in this situation. For example, what is an e-passport, how does it work, what are the advantages of an e-passport, who is eligible to obtain an e-passport, and when will an e-passport be made available to the public?

What is e-passport?

In addition to a ‘Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) chip, the electronic passport is equipped with a smart card. Advanced security features will be built into this chip. E-passport holders have their personal information (name, address, etc.) digitally stored in the chip that serves as their unique identification.

Foreign Minister V Muraleedharan told Rajya Sabha on February 3 that the features of the chip are in line with the ICAO guidelines, a United Nations specialised agency that defines standards for international travel documents, including e-passports. he said that. Is. It’ll have data on paper and a chip in it.

How does e-passport work?

The e-passport holder’s entire personal information will be stored on a chip that will be included in the passport booklet, as previously mentioned. The person will be identified by this. Also, V Muraleedharan said in the Rajya Sabha, the system would identify him if he tampered with the chip and the passport authentication would fail. E-passports can only be used by the person who has them.

When will e-passports be issued?

In response to a question in the Lok Sabha, S Jaishankar stated that the e-passport process had begun. Letters of Intent (LOIs) for 4.5 million chips have also been issued. It was previously stated by Jaishankar that the e-passport process could begin within six months of the contract for it being awarded in the next few days. There is currently a test run of the sample passport.

E-passport at risk of data theft?

According to S. Jaishankar, the data is inserted into the chip and printed using a special printer. Several stages are involved in this process. “Data theft is a serious concern for us,” he said (skimming). As a result, the passport sample is currently being tested on the testbed. Data can’t be stolen unless the passport is handed over to the officer. Is.”

Benefits of e-passport?

Using an e-passport will make traveling more convenient and expeditious. To that end, e-passports are being implemented. E-passports are being issued to make travel more convenient, faster, and more secure, according to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, who stated as much in Lok Sabha on February 4.

Who can get an e-passport?

All Indian citizens will be able to use the e-passport service. Anyone who is eligible for a normal passport can apply for this. Everyone will be treated equally in this endeavor.