E-Passport Launched in India Under PSP 2.0: Key Features Explained
India
oi-Ruchika Pareek
In
an
effort
to
improve
data
security
and
avoid
duplicate
passport
information,
India
formally
introduced
the
e-passport
on
April
1,
2024,
as
part
of
the
Passport
Seva
Programme
(PSP)
Version
2.0.
The
e-passport
offers
more
reliable
identity
verification
by
combining
digital
and
physical
security
elements.
What’s
an
electronic
passport?
A
safe
travel
document
that
combines
an
electronic
component
with
a
conventional
passport
booklet
is
called
an
e-passport.
It
contains
an
inbuilt
antenna
and
a
Radio
Frequency
Identification
(RFID)
chip
that
store
the
biometric
and
personal
information
of
the
passport
bearer.
How
can
an
e-passport
be
recognised?
A
tiny,
gold-colored
emblem
printed
on
the
underside
of
the
front
cover
identifies
an
e-passport.
The
implanted
electronic
chip
within
is
indicated
by
this
mark.
What
benefits
may
an
electronic
passport
offer?
Improved
data
integrity
is
one
of
the
e-passport’s
main
advantages.
It
has
a
digitally
signed
chip
and
written
information
about
the
holder.
This
chip
reduces
the
possibility
of
data
manipulation
or
forgery
by
enabling
secure
passport
authentication
for
immigration
agencies
worldwide.
How
is
fraud
protection
provided
by
the
e-passport?
The
e-passport’s
mix
of
a
digital
chip
and
printed
data
makes
it
more
difficult
to
counterfeit.
It
increases
traveler
security
by
reducing
the
likelihood
of
counterfeit
or
duplicate
passports.
Where
is
the
data
from
the
passport
kept?
A
Public
Key
Infrastructure
(PKI)
system
protects
the
chip’s
data,
guaranteeing
the
integrity
and
security
of
private
information
and
sensitive
biometrics
kept
in
the
e-passport.
Is
switching
to
an
e-passport
mandatory
for
current
passport
holders?
No,
it’s
not
required.
Passports
that
are
now
valid
will
stay
so
till
they
expire.
The
e-passport
features
will
only
be
available
on
recently
issued
passports.
The
introduction
of
e-passports
is
a
major
step
towards
updating
India’s
travel
documents
to
meet
international
standards,
bolster
border
security,
and
provide
individuals
with
increased
convenience
and
safety.
