Now making Passport cheaper for kids and senior citizens

New Delhi, January 22: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said that the government has decided to reduce the cost of passport application by 10% for children below 8 years and senior citizens.

"We are committed to simplifying the entire process of passport services with a view to processing all applications in a speedy and transparent manner and have taken a series of reforms," MEA said.

Part of this simplification process was the recent decision to do away with printing the last page in passports, she said.

The launch of POPSKs was part of a joint scheme with the Department of Posts to extend passport related services on a larger scale and ensure wider area coverage, by utilising Head Post Offices as "Post Office Passport Seva Kendra", she said.

Notably, Passports are issued in three colours: red, white and blue. Government officers are issued white passports, diplomats carry red ones and all others are issued blue ones. The regular blue passports also have two categories: one, where emigration checks are required and the other where they are not.