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India to launch biometric passports

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CIOL Bureau
New Update

NEW DELHI, INDIA: The Government of India plans to introduce smart-card biometric passports by year-end.

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According to informed sources, the Government will carry out a pilot project initially by issuing passports to bureaucrats, members of parliament, and expatriates before going ahead with the public implementation.

“The Indian Government has already discussed with both Indian and multinational companies who have expertise in the area of issuing smart-card passports. In the pilot project, for which a tender is to be called for very soon, 3000 persons will be issued these high-tech passports,” the source informed.

“The Government has decided to introduce e-passports, also known as biometric passports, initially for diplomats and officials as a pilot project by the end of 2007. Based on the experience gained from this pilot project, it is proposed to start issuance of e-passports in the ordinary category by the end of 2008,” the source said.

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“A Technical Committee has been constituted to finalize the technical specifications of the e-passports and this matter is under examination. The cost of converting ordinary into biometric passports will be worked out on the basis of the technical specifications that are finalized,” the source added.

The incorporation of biometrics in the passports will put a check on the tampering of passports and will make them more secure travel documents as per international standards. These passports will have a micro-processor based digital storage device embedded in them. Besides, containing the usual information concerning the passport and its holder, it will also have certain biometric features of the holder, such as finger-prints on it. Biometric passports therefore, will be much safer against forgeries and will also prevent the holding of more than one passport by the same individual in different names.

The tender for issuance of smart-card biometric passports will be to shortlist hardware, software and implementation partners for undertaking the pilot project. However, indications are that the government will ensure that all bidders adhere to the guidelines laid down by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

The Indian government is also in talks with other countries which have already implemented such a scheme for exchange of information online.

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