Soon, Indians can have chip-based e-passport

Soon, Indians can have a chip-based e-passport in place of paper passports. The government is working on a centralised passport system in which all passport services would be provided from Indian embassies and consulates across the world, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said today.

"Indian embassies and consulates are being connected to the Passport Seva Project worldwide," Prime Minister Narendra Modi said today while addressing the inaugural ceremony of Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) 2019 in Varanasi.

Prime Minister also announced that the government is working to simplify the process of issuing visas to PIO (Person of Indian Origin) and OCI (Overseas Citizen of India) cards.

He said that the government's endeavour is to see that Indians are happy and safe wherever they live across the globe.

He also said that over two lakh Indians stranded in crisis situations abroad have been helped by the government in the last four-and-a-half years.

Organised by the External Affairs Ministry and the Uttar Pradesh government, the Indian diaspora conclave this year has been attended by nearly 5,000 delegates.

(Inputs from IANS)