The government of India is planning to issue electronic passport to its citizen. It will contain a security chip with personal data and digital images, including finger prints of that person carrying such passport and it will have 64KB chip with a photograph of passport holder. The passport will issue in 3 days only.
The new passport is entirely designed after the trial conducted by the Central Passport Organisation, National Informatics Centre and IIT Kanpur. This passport need not to be carried safely for the security reason as it first to be passed by the reader after which it can be access keys to unlock the chip data. India has given the contract of issuing e-passport to the Tata Consultancy Services(TCS)
According to the External Affair minister S M krishna– The main aim to issue the e-passport is to check the misuse of passport in the current format and to make the process of obtaining passport easier for the citizen of the country in electronic format.
The growing economy and the foreign interest of the country has lead to the increased in the number of passport issued from 22 lakhs in 2000 to 50 lakhs in 2007 and it is estimated to grow up from 58 lakh in 2008 to more than 80 lakhs in 2010.
As per the Government order, India plans to open 77 centres to issue e-passport across the country. On 25 June 2008 Indian Passport Authority issued first e-passport to the President of India, Pratibha Patil. The e-passport is under the first phase of development and will be initially restricted to Diplomatic Passport holders. It is expected to be made available to ordinary citizens from September 2010 onwards.
Related : How to apply for Passport Online in India ?
I Agree with Jag. It is frustrating. The system logs you out the moment you log-in. In-person visits to the seva kendra aren’t entertained either. They insist that one completes the online formalities before visiting the Kendra. How does one complete these formalities on a buggy system?
It is a shame. Does TCS develop such poor quality software for its international clients as well???
The website developed by TCS for new possport application process for Passport seva kendra is one of the worst web sites I have ever accessed. I cannot beleive this is developed by TCS. This website really sucks. You log in and it will log you out in secs if youtry to click on any link. I am trying to download eform and upload it after filling everything and I am still try for continiously third day and it still logs me out.You try any link it logs you out automatically.
One of the world leaders in IT created this website and it is so pathetic and it is used at national level, u can say international level and it still does not even pass a nominal standards. TCS guys what kind of service you provide to international clients????? well I thinks TCS is like a desi government company where no one cares what the result is as no one complains about anything. Well I will be happy to know if anyone users will be be able to actually complete one simple process using this website. Bravo TCS and Bravo Indian national services.