In a recent decision by the Ministry of External Affairs, a few changes will be made as per the final decision was taken by the ministry board. From now passports will cease to serve as a residential proof as the Ministry has decided to issue new passports with its last page blank. The last page of the passport contained the full address, information about parents, ECR, and details of old passport if any. The new passports will not contain the address of the holder.
The decision was taken by the Ministry according to suggestions for the change made by a three-member committee. The committee of three members from MEA and the Ministry of Women and Child Development was to examine issues regarding passport applications, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said.
He further explained that many applicants had insisted that the name of the father should not be mentioned in the passport. These applications were from mother/child applicants and the issues were also with the single parent and their children and in case of od adopted children.
The last page of the new passports will be blank and the information related to address of the holder and details of holder’s father and mother will be stored in MEA database, so it will not affect the government.
The under-secretary of policy and legal matters at the Consular, Passport and Visa Division of the MEA, Surendra Kumar, said in a report that the decision was taken by the committee to protect the details of the holder mentioned in the passport. These changes are to be applied with immediate effect, that means the next series of passports will have their last page blank.
Currently, civilians have a blue passport, Government officials have a white passport and diplomats have a red passport. The announced changes will not affect those holding old passports as they will remain valid and serve as a residential proof till they expire.
According to the spokesperson, Raveesh Kumar, the Indian Security Press in Nasik will be providing old passports to the MEA till their machines are designed, manufactured and made available. The printing of new passports with last pages blank will begin very soon.
Based on the recommendation of the three-member committee the Ministry decided that the last page of passports will no longer be printed. They were printed according to the Passport Rules, 1980 and Passports Act, 1967.
The Ministry of External Affairs with the consultation of various stakeholders and the guidelines of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) decided to take this decision. The last page currently contains various information about the holder like residential address, the name of Father, Mother, and ECR with details of old passport. The new passports designed by the Indian Security Press, Nasik will have the last pages blank.
The spokesperson also said that old passport holders will not have to worry as their passports will remain valid until they expire.
