At a time when data privacy and security concerns have become a topic of dinner table conversations, it is heartening to see governments around the world roll out e-passports.
The e-passport is the state’s effort to curb illegal entry into the country and to improve the security of travellers as well.
In 2022, the Indian Government proposed rolling out e-passports as part of its ongoing efforts to ‘Make in India’ and digitize various documents, including Aadhaar Card, PAN Card, driving license, and voter ID.
As part of a digital initiative, Passport Seva Program 2.0, the Ministry of External Affairs started e-Passport services on April 1, 2024, in a pilot phase. As of now, this upgraded version of the passport is being issued across Indian regions via official website and post offices.
What is an e-Passport? How to Get it in India?
Typically, an e-passport is an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) enabled passport which contains your data that can help verify your identity, like name, address, biometrics like face, retina, fingerprints, etc., saved in an RFID inlay (small RFID Chip and Antenna) embedded on the front cover page of the passport book.
So, this RFID tag/chip, which has a unique chip ID, is embedded in the front cover page of your passport, making it an electronic passport (e-passport). Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) is used to authenticate the data stored on the RFID tag. The use of RFID tags in passports makes it difficult and expensive to forge or tamper with the data of an individual, which adds to public security.
Different countries use different biometric features in their passports, which only adds to the security and privacy protection levels in an e-passport.
To get your ePassport in India, provided you’re an Indian citizen, just visit the Passport Seva website, which is the official website in India to apply for a new ePassport or renewal of your old Passport to a new ePassport. Register and fill out the necessary details, and make payments for your new passport, and that’s it. With a timely verification of your details, you’ll soon get your new ePassport.
How does this RFID feature in an e-Passport Work?
The RFID technology that is employed in e-passports uses radio waves or radio frequency signals to share the data embedded in the RFID tag to an RFID reader through a small antenna. The RFID inlay that is used is typically a UHF passive RFID tag that has no battery to power itself. The tag is activated by the RF signal coming from the RFID reader (ideally, authorities will have the RFID reader that can read and decode the data inside the RFID tag), and it sends back the user data to the RFID reader for the end user.
The data inside the RFID tag is read-only and cannot be modified or forged, even if the data on the passport page is duplicated. This will help authorities know if a passport is original or a forged one.
For security purposes, the e-passport with RFID CHIP is protected from unlicensed scanning of the chip, and thus data saved in the chip is secured from data theft and misuse. The use of NFC Chips on e-passports is also preferred in some countries. The NFC technology is a near-field communication technology and works only within a read range of a few centimeters. The e-passport with an NFC chip can only be scanned when it is brought closer to an NFC Reader.
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India’s Effort to Go Digital: Electronic Aadhaar, e-PAN, E-passport
Post 2014, India is constantly updating its digital infrastructure, enabling better services to Indian citizens as well as foreign investors and businesses. India has successfully created a start-up ecosystem that is based on new technologies, employing the Internet of Things and AIDC technologies as well.
India offers an electronic Aadhar card now, which has removed the need to mail printed Aadhar cards to individuals via postal mail. It also enables people to carry their authentic Aadhar card on their smartphone, as well as one can download the e-Aadhar using the internet and the mobile number linked to the Aadhar card via the official UIDAI website.
Benefits of RFID-based e-Passport
There are several benefits of employing RFID-based e-passports. Some of them are listed below:
1.Preventing Forgery and Image Change
The e-passport will minimize passport forgery and duplication that was rampant earlier; many would change the image on the passport to duplicate it, which is no possible with RFID inlay embedded in the passport.
2. Added Data Protection and Security
E-passports will help in saving the individual's data from being tampered with.
3. Detecting Illegal Entry
An e-passport will also prevent miscreants from entering another country illegally. It will also help border security police with illegal immigrants and refugees.
4. Better Flyer Experience
E-passport will also improve customer experience at airports and the Immigration desk as well.
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