NASHIK: Government documents and currency notes are printed at India Security Press (ISP) and Currency Note Press (CNP) respectively at Nashik Road in the city. It is understood that the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) is working with the Indian Security Press and the National Informatics Center for the city’s proposed e-passport printing facility with advanced security features.
During demonetisation, most notes were printed in Nashik’s CNP. At that time, CNP staff had worked round the clock to print the notes. Efforts for e-passport have been started by the Ministry of External Affairs. It is understood that efforts are being made at senior level to make the embedded chips required for e-passport available to ISP, Nashik Road.
It is understood that the MEA had preliminary discussions with the press administration of Nashik Road regarding the e-passport facility. The government issues an average of one crore passports every year. E-passports with electronic chips are available in developed countries. In India, however, passports are issued in the form of even smaller diaries. Passport printing was done only in Nashik Road press in the country.
The government has announced to close this passport production and instead issue e-passports with electronic chips. Union Finance Secretary Subhash Chandra Garg and Chief Managing Director of Press Corporation Tripti Patra Ghosh had visited the ISP at Nashik Road in August last year. It is understood that the movement for e-passports has gained momentum since then.
What is an e-passport?
An e-passport is a biometric ID card embedded with an electronic chip. It contains information printed on the passport’s data page, such as the person’s name, date of birth and other details. An individual’s biometric data is also saved in the chip. The e-passport will help passengers avoid the hassle of standing in long queues at immigration counters. Also, this chip can be scanned in minutes.
