The Indian passport is set to go through a lot
of changes, if the proposal of the ministry of external affairs is implemented.
They will no longer be valid proof of address;
a Hindustan Times report says. Reason: The current last page with the passport
holder's address and the names of the guardian will be dropped.
What's more, to make immigration and screening
more efficient, orange coloured passports may be issued for individuals in the
emigration check required (ECR) category.
Surendera Kumar, under-secretary of policy and
legal matters at the consular, passport and visa division of the ministry, was
quoted in the report as saying that, "The decision to keep the last page
of the passport blank has been taken" to protect the details contained.
Though not printed, the details will be saved
on official systems and remain accessible for immigration officials and
agencies concerned by scanning a barcode present, a report in CN Traveler said.
Apart from this, the ministry is also mulling
changing colour of some passports of a specific category. At present, Indian
passports are issued in three colours: white for government officers or to
those people who visit other countries for the official work of the government;
red for diplomats; and blue for all others across two categories - those who
require emigration check (ECR) and those who do not (ECNR), the Hindustan Times
report says.
Those in the ECR category will have orange
passports, Kumar said. This will increase the speed of the process of
emigration as the colour of the passport will make it clear whether the
emigration check is required or not. In this case too, existing ECR passports
will be valid, according to the report.
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