Tata Consultancy Services ,TCS) is reportedly set to roll out chip-based e-passports by the end of the year. According to a report in Economic Times (ET), TCS is also setting up a new command and control center along with it. foreign Ministry (MEA) as well as the new data center to support the backend requirements of the project. Earlier this year, the ministry renewed its 10-year PSK Over Rs 6,000 crore deal with TCS. This is part of the second phase of the Passport project that the company has secured from the government. This passport project is being said to be the biggest mission-critical e-governance program in the country so far. Here are the recent updates on the ready reckoner and rollout of e-passport.
what is e-passport
At first glance, an e-passport looks like a regular passport. However, an e-passport has a small electronic chip, which is similar to a driving licence. The microchip stores all the information printed on your passport including name, date of birth, address and other details. The microchip will help immigration officials verify a traveler’s details quickly. The e-passport has an embedded radio frequency identification (RFID) chip and antenna embedded in the back cover as inlay. Important passport information is printed on its data page as well as stored on the chip.
What is the purpose of these e-passports
The move will also help in reducing the prevalence of fake passports. With the issuance of e-passports, the government aims to enhance the security of passports, eliminate duplication and data tampering. Embedded with an electronic chip, they will help improve the level of identity verification.
TCS to set up new data center and PSK
TCS is setting up a new Command and Control Center with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). The existing Passport Command Center is running from the TCS premises but in the Passport 2.0 version a Joint Command Center will be set up in the premises of the Ministry of External Affairs. The company also plans to refresh existing facilities (PSKs) and systems (including hardware), develop new solutions for issuance of e-passports. This includes offering solutions like biometrics, chatbots and auto-response
What is the time limit for chip based e-passport
According to the report, the Ministry of External Affairs is considering a launch timeline within this year, quoting a TCS official.
what will happen to the existing passport
Existing passport will remain valid. The passports currently in circulation will go through the process of being renewed with a new chip when it is ready for renewal.
How the global chip crisis will affect the rollout
Tej Bhatla, head of TCS’ public sector business unit, told ET that he does not expect the global semiconductor shortage to impact the e-passport program. “Supply chain issues are definitely affecting everything. Even for Passport Seva 2.0, we are setting up an entirely new data center and the two existing data centers will also be refreshed. So, some hardware to come We have a lot of dependence from outside the country,” he said. However, he is hopeful that since the e-passport project will spread in some time, it can help ensure that the demand is manageable.
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