The Central Government has amended the Indian Passport Rules. These amended rules will come into effect after being notified in the official gazette, bringing significant changes in the passport application process.
Passport (Amendment) Rules 2025
- The Ministry of External Affairs issued a public notification on 24 February 2025, giving information about the amended rules related to Indian passport.
- Birth Certificate Mandatory: Now Birth Certificate has been made mandatory in passport application for those born on or after 1 October 2023.
- Earlier applicants could submit other documents like driving license, PAN card, Aadhaar card, school leaving certificate to verify their date of birth, but now this option will not be available for the new generation. Under the amended rules, the name of the parents will not be written from the last page of the passport.
- Change in address: Now the residential address of the applicant will not be printed on the last page of the passport.
- Instead, this information will be available in digital form through a barcode, which will be scanned and verified by the immigration officer.
Why new passport rules were introduced
- Stopping fraud: The government has implemented new rules to make the passport application process more transparent and secure. Earlier, the option of several documents was available to prove the date of birth, due to which there were more chances of getting a passport by giving wrong information. Now only the birth certificate will be the valid document, which will curb the process of registering fake date of birth.
- Accuracy of documents: Under the new rules, the accuracy of the information submitted in the passport application will be ensured. Making the birth certificate mandatory will ensure that no wrong or misleading information related to the date of birth is given. This will reduce cases of identity fraud and increase the credibility of the passport.
- Privacy Protection: Earlier, the applicant’s residential address was printed on the last page of the passport, which posed a risk of personal information becoming public. Now under the new rules, this information will be digitally protected and will be available only by scanning the barcode. This will strengthen the protection of applicants’ personal privacy.
- International reliability: Through the new rules, it has been ensured that there is no fraud in the process and the identity of the passport holders is clear and authenticated. This will also strengthen the credibility of the Indian passport at the international level.
Indian Passport: History and Evolution
- The history of the Indian passport has undergone many important changes from British rule to independent India. It is not only a proof of citizenship and address, but also an essential document related to foreign travel and national security.
Passport under British rule
- In 1915, passports were made mandatory for entry into and exit of India under the “Defense of India Act”. This rule was part of the security policies of the British government.
- The requirement of a passport for entry into and exit of India was made legally mandatory under the Indian Passport Act, 1920. Through this, control was established on the movement of Indian citizens and foreign travelers. This passport was based on the format decided by the League of Nations in 1920.
Passport in independent India
- After independence, in 1952, the Government of India canceled all the old passports issued under British rule.
- Under the new passport policy, passports were issued only to those who were considered “respectable”. The aim was to prioritize national security, but it affected the rights of many citizens.
- In 1967, in the case of “Satwant Singh Savne vs D. Ramarathnam”, the Supreme Court gave a historic decision that obtaining a passport is a fundamental right of every citizen. Following this decision, the government passed the “Indian Passport Act, 1967”. This act provides a legal framework for issuing passports and travel documents. It clearly defines the rules related to Indian citizens going abroad and leaving the country.
Features of Indian Passport
- President’s Message: Every Indian passport contains an official note from the President of India, requesting foreign authorities to allow the passport holder a safe journey.
- Language: All information in the passport is printed only in Hindi and English. The cover of an Indian passport is usually dark blue.
- Security measures: The passport holder’s photo and fingerprints are recorded, thereby confirming identity and strengthening security.
- The passport has a special zone (Machine-Readable Zone) in which personal information is encoded.
- This zone can be read by automated machines (Scanning Machines), ensuring accurate and rapid identification.
- The National Emblem and the passport holder’s photo are added as holographic images.
- Some details in the passport, such as passport number and personal information, glow in ultraviolet (UV) light.
- Special watermarks are present in the pages of the passport, which makes it almost impossible to copy.
- Number of pages: Indian passport is available in 36 pages (Standard Passport) and 60 pages (Frequent Traveler Passport) depending on the travel requirements.
Different Types of Indian Passport
- Indian passports are divided into three major categories, which are issued as per the requirements of citizens, government officials and diplomats. Each passport has a specific colour and use.
- Ordinary Passport (P-Type): This passport is issued to general citizens and has a dark blue cover. It is used for holidays, education, business trips and other personal purposes. This is the most common passport and the process of obtaining it is easier than other categories.
- Government Passport (S-Type): This passport with a white cover is issued to officials traveling for official work. It is given to government personnel who represent the Government of India, such as members of the Indian Armed Forces deployed abroad. This passport is limited to official work and cannot be used for private travel.
- Diplomatic Passport (D-Type): This dark red or maroon colored passport is issued to diplomats, Members of Parliament (MPs), members of the Union Council of Ministers, high government officials and diplomatic couriers. In addition, their dependents can also use this passport. Now e-passports are issued for diplomatic and government passport holders. These passports contain biometric data such as photo, fingerprints and electronic chip, which makes security and identification more secure.