India’s growing technological strength is often a topic of global discussion. In line with this, the country is now preparing to launch its next major innovation- chip-powered e-passports, which will be valid in multiple countries. The Indian government has been planning this initiative for some time, and the official rollout is expected between July or August, which will be the mid of 2025. The implementation of e-passports commenced in April 2024 under the upgraded Passport Seva Programme 2.0. Initial pilots were conducted in key cities including Nagpur, Bhubaneswar, Jammu, Panaji, Shimla, Raipur, Amritsar, Jaipur, Chennai, Hyderabad, Surat, and Ranchi. A complete nationwide rollout is expected by mid-2025
Which Countries Have Chip-Powered E-Passports?
The technology have already adopted by over 120 foreign countries like the United States, France, Italy, Mexico, Canada, Japan, and others. The chip-based biometric e-passports are set to be the new normal. The move aims to prevent fraud identity and a speedy immigration process for Indians. The upgradation of passports began in 2024 as a pilot project in several cities.
Why This Shift
After the COVID-19 pandemic, international travel saw a sharp rise, with over 1.5 billion trips recorded in 2023. To handle this growing volume securely and efficiently, many countries are turning to biometric technologies. Traditional machine-readable passports are more vulnerable to counterfeiting and data tampering. In contrast, biometric e-passports offer stronger protection and physical security, helping reduce identity fraud and improving the overall travel experience.
Biometric-E-Passports To Have RFID
Biometric-e-passports will have a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) chip and an antenna embedded in the back cover as key features. The chip is capable of storing the facial images, fingerprints, name, birth and passport number. This data is protected through international encryption standards like Basic Access Control (BAC), Passive Authentication (PA), and Extended Access Control (EAC).
Application Process
The e-passport application process is user-friendly. An individual can apply through the Passport Seva Portal. The applicant can provide the biometric data by visiting at their local Passport Seva Kendra or Post Office Passport Seva Kendra.
Benefits
These changes show that India is moving towards a future without paper documents. In this future, travel will be fully digital, contactless, and smart. By starting chip-based biometric passports, India is making travel safer and more modern. This step will help improve security and make travel easier for many Indians in the future.
