Marking a significant leap in India’s citizen service delivery and global mobility initiatives, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) celebrated Passport Seva Divas on June 24, 2025, commemorating the enactment of the Passports Act on the same day in 1967. Coinciding with the 13th edition of this annual observance, the MEA organized a three-day Regional Passport Officers (RPO) Conference from June 23–25, 2025, attended by officers from 37 Passport Offices across the country.
During the celebration, External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar announced the nationwide rollout of e-Passports and the implementation of the Passport Seva Programme (PSP) Version 2.0, describing them as key milestones in modernizing India’s passport ecosystem.
“In line with the Government of India’s commitment to deliver next-level citizen-centric services, I am delighted to inform that we have rolled out PSP V2.0 across the country. This would leverage advanced, high-end emerging technologies,” Dr. Jaishankar said. He added that pilot testing of Global PSP Version 2.0 is currently underway and will be rolled out gradually at Indian missions abroad.
Reflecting on the evolution of the passport delivery system over the last decade, the Minister stated, “From just over 91 lakh passports issued in 2014, we have reached 1.46 crore passports in 2024. This journey has been marked by innovations such as the mPassport Police App, Post Office Passport Seva Kendras (POPSK), and GPSP, which have made passport services faster and more accessible, even in the remotest parts of India.”
Highlighting the benefits of e-Passports, Dr. Jaishankar noted that the embedded chip enables contactless reading of personal data, enhancing ease of travel and improving coordination with immigration authorities worldwide. He also acknowledged the launch of 10 new POPSKs in the past year, with the 450th centre inaugurated in Kushinagar in April 2025, and praised the introduction of mobile passport service vans that have extended reach to underserved areas.
“‘Seva, Sushasan, and Garib Kalyan’ are the guiding principles behind our Passport Seva Programme, which is now a cornerstone of our vision for Viksit Bharat,” he affirmed.
Pabitra Margherita, Minister of State for External Affairs, who presided over the Passport Seva Divas celebration, lauded the inclusive and affordable nature of today’s passport services. He commended innovative initiatives by Passport Offices, including TRIFED outlets, solar plants, and rainwater harvesting systems, aimed at social and environmental responsibility.
“The most striking feature of our passport delivery service today is its inclusivity and efficiency. I sincerely thank our Prime Minister and Dr. Jaishankar for their visionary leadership in transforming passport services,” said Margherita. He also presented awards to outstanding officers, officials, and partner organizations for their contributions to expanding the outreach and quality of passport services.
The RPO Conference, led by Dr. K.J. Srinivasa, Joint Secretary (PSP) & Chief Passport Officer, facilitated in-depth discussions on key themes such as the rollout of PSP V2.0 and e-Passports, human resource development, grievance redressal, and national security protocols. The collective goal, officials said, is to deliver faster, secure, and citizen-friendly passport services in alignment with India’s global aspirations.
 celebrated Passport Seva Divas on June 24, 2025, commemorating the enactment of the Passports Act on the same day in 1967. Coinciding with the 13th edition of this annual observance, the MEA organized a three-day Regional Passport Officers (RPO) Conference from June 23–25, 2025, attended by officers from 37 Passport Offices across the country.){kind=link}