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Stamp marks 50 years of Passports Act

Minister for Communications Manoj Sinha on Friday said the Passport Seva Project (PSP) has been a watershed in the history of passport…

Stamp marks 50 years of Passports Act

Minister for Communications Manoj Sinha (Photo: IANS)

Minister for Communications Manoj Sinha on Friday said the Passport Seva Project (PSP) has been a watershed in the history of passport issuance in India with its successful implementation in the public private partnership (PPP) mode.

Speaking after releasing a commemorative postage stamp on completion of 50 years of the Passports Act, 1967, he said that services are delivered through a country-wide networked environment, integrating all passport Issuing authorities, around 91 passport seva kendras, as well as providing access to a number of external stakeholders ~ immigration, police, India Post, India Security Press and embassies and consulates abroad.

Sinha said 24 June 1967, marked an important milestone in the history of passport issuance in India as it was on this day that the President gave assent to the Passports Act 1967. The Passports Act provided a robust legal framework for the issue of passports and travel documents and regulation of the departure from India of Indian citizens.

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 The minister said in order to extend passport services to citizens on a larger scale and to ensure wider area coverage, the Ministry of External Affairs and the Department of Posts (DOP) have agreed to utilise head post offices in the country as post office passport seva kendra (POPSK) for delivering passport-related services to the citizens of the country.

 It has been decided to set up 235 POPSK in two phases ~ 86 in Phase-I and 149 in Phase-II. Fifty two POPSK of Phase-I have been operationalised.

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