India is set to replace all passports with biometric e-passports with electronic chips, a significant step forward in digital travel infrastructure. This move brings India in line with over 120 countries, including the United States, Canada, France, Japan, and Australia. The initiative’s goal is to increase security, prevent identity fraud, and make immigration procedures faster and more efficient.
The Passport Seva Programme 2.0 initiative kicked off in April 2024. Pilot testing was successfully completed in cities such as Chennai, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Amritsar, and Panaji. A full statewide rollout is expected by mid-2025.
Each e-passport comes with a secure RFID chip and an antenna integrated in the back cover. This chip saves important biometric and personal information such as fingerprints, facial recognition data, date of birth, and passport number. International encryption technologies such as BAC, PA, and EAC ensure that this sensitive data is secured.
Thanks to automated e-gates, Indian travellers would benefit from faster and more frictionless clearance at immigration counters. The India Security Press prints all e-passports in Nashik, supporting the ‘Make in India’ initiative and ensuring data sovereignty.
