The budget speech of Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday announced that India would implement chip-based electronic passports utilizing futuristic technology by 2022-23. There will be an electronic chip embedded in passport jackets that will store important information about security. This move will make life easier for citizens, Sitharaman said.

The Indian passport is currently issued as a printed booklet. Minister of external affairs S. Jaishankar said earlier that India Security Press was in a discussion regarding chip-enabled e-passports.

He said:  “We propose to pursue the manufacture of e-passports on priority so that a new passport booklet with advanced security features can be rolled out in the near future,".

A digital signature would be placed on the passport booklet's chip, which would also store the applicant's personal information. In case of tampering, the system would be able to identify it.

Currently, e-passports are available in the US, the UK, Germany, and a few other countries. India's e-passports would be in compliance with the standards of the International Civil Aviation Organization.

As part of the passport microchip, the person's name and date of birth would be stored. The data on the microchip can be scanned in minutes, eliminating the need for physical verification at immigration counters. Government sources say the microchip will also curb criminal activities related to fake passports since the data is not accessible by others.

Also Read: Key Highlights Of India Budget 2022