Question : POPSK in the Country

(a) whether there is any proposal to start Post Office Passport Seva Kendras (POPSKs) in all district headquarters or in all Parliamentary constituencies;

(b) if so, the number of POPSKs set up so far along with the details thereof;

(c) the number of POPSKs which have started functioning so far in Maharashtra and Rajasthan along with the number of POPSKs proposed to be made operational in near future; and

(d) the extent to which getting passports is likely to be easier through POPSKs along with the details of its style of functioning?

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
[GEN. (DR) V. K. SINGH (RETD)]

(a) & (b) Before 2014, 77 Passport Seva Kendras were operational in the country. After 2014, 16 new Passport Seva Kendras were established by this Government. Thereafter, in the year 2017, a decision was taken in co-operation with the Department of Posts to open ‘Post Office Passport Seva Kendras’ (POPSK), under which as on 06 February, 2019, 326 POPSK have been established. Thus, as on 06 February, 2019, 419 ‘Passport Kendras’ are operational in the country (Annexure-I).

(c) 21 POPSK are functional in Maharashtra and 20 POPSK are functional in Rajasthan. In the future, 17 more POPSK in Maharashtra and 04 more in Rajasthan would be made operational.

(d) Post Office Passport Seva Kendras (POPSK) are being set up in association with the Department of Posts in order to bring passport services closer to people residing in villages/remote/rural areas of the country. The POPSK are functioning like the other existing 93 Passport Seva Kendras (PSK). The process of issuing passports has not changed after the opening of the POPSK. Applicants, who apply for their passports online through the passport portal, can schedule an appointment and then visit the designated POPSK to complete the formalities similar to those at the PSK necessary prior to the issue of the passport. The photographs, biometrics and the supporting documents would be electronically captured at the POPSK prior to the issue of the Passport.
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