THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
[GEN. (DR) V. K. SINGH (RETD)]
(a) & (b) Yes. A mobile application ‘mPassport Police’ has been launched by the Ministry of External Affairs in January 2016 for speedy submission of Police Verification Report (PVR). The mobile application would facilitate the field verification police officers to capture the PVR into the system digitally. With the launch of this application, the need to download and print the physical Personal Particulars Form and questionnaire would no longer be required resulting in paperless end-to-end digital flow of the PVR process, further reducing the time required for completion of PVR, within the desired time limit of 21 days.
(c) For the purpose of Police Verification (PV), the passport applications are divided into three categories, that is, No-PV, Post-PV and Pre-PV cases as given below:
No PV: Police Verification (PV) is not necessary in case of renewal/reissue of passport, if the passport application is submitted before expiry or within three years of expiry of the Passport, provided the system shows clear PV and nothing adverse is noticed. PV is also not required for Government employees if requisite No Objection Certificate (NOC) and other documents, such as proof of stay, are furnished along with the application.
Post-PV: Police Verification after issuance of passport is required if the application for reissue of passport is (i) submitted within three years after expiry of passport, but the PV Column in the system is either blank or incomplete; (ii) for a minor is submitted for reissue after attaining the age of 18 years; and (iii) for lost/fully damaged passports, where particulars and photograph are in the system, PV is clear and the particulars of the applicant matches with that in the system. The Ministry has introduced a scheme in January 2016 under which the first time passport applicants who furnish Aadhaar Card, Electoral Photo Identity Card (EPIC), PAN Card and a self declaratory affidavit of non-criminality in the prescribed format will get faster service, without payment of additional fees, subject to successful online validation of Aadhaar database, if required. The passports under this liberal dispensation are issued on Post-Police Verification basis.
Pre-PV: In all cases other than those stated above, the passports are issued after receipt of clear PVR.
(d) & (e) Yes. As stated in (a) & (b) above, a mobile application ‘mPassport Police’ has been launched by the Ministry of External Affairs in January 2016 for speedy submission of PVR. It has been working in Kolkata, Chandigarh, Pune and Bangalore. All the State Governments/Union Territories have been requested to use this mobile application for the purpose of police verification.
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