New Delhi: The Central government on Monday decided to discontinue the requirement for international passengers to fill the Air Suvidha form amid declining coronavirus cases in the country.

International passengers had to submit a mandatory Self Declaration form, on the aviation ministry’s Air Suvidha portal, to declare their current health status. In it, passengers had to declare their vaccination status, including the number of doses received and their dates.

A notice from the ministry of civil aviation read: “In the light of sustained declining COVID-19 trajectory and significant advances being made in COVID-19 vaccination coverage both globally as well as in India, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has issued revised ‘Guidelines for International Arrivals”.

The revised guidelines for international arrivals will be effective from November 22, according to a notification issued by the Union health ministry.

On November 15, Congress leader Shashi Tharoor had urged aviation minister Jyotiraditya Scindia to review the ‘Air Suvidha’ requirement calling it a ‘dead hand of bureaucracy!’.

“AirSuvidha was introduced when Covid was at its peak, aiming to track people landing in Indian airports. With normal life back, why is it still mandatory for flyers to India to submit #AirSuvidha?,” he said.

AirSuvidha was introduced when Covid was at its peak, aiming to track people landing in Indian airports. With normal life back, why is it still mandatory for flyers to India to submit #AirSuvidha? Urge @JM_Scindia to review this requirement & lift the dead hand of bureaucracy!

— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) November 15, 2022

Urge @JM_Scindia to review this requirement & lift the dead hand of bureaucracy!, he added.