Earlier this month, social media was abuzz with enthusiastic claims about a new 'smart passport' called the All-In-One Identity Solution. Many Twitter users shared identical tweets about the rollout of this new e-passport. A Facebook page called Mission 2019 300+ claimed that the e-passport is designed like a swipeable debit/credit card and is meant to facilitate smoother passenger traffic at airports. All of these users shared the same images as well, though only a few clarified that these pictures were for representation only.
X content
This content can also be viewed on the site it originates from.
X content
This content can also be viewed on the site it originates from.
However, a closer examination of the images tells an interesting story. They are of a passport card prototype designed by Finland-based designer Siddhant Gupta, who has clarified that he has not pitched his concept to any political party or government authority.
So where is the Indian e-passport?
While the Narendra Modi government has confirmed that an e-passport is in the works, they have not even begun rolling them out yet. In 2008, India's first e-passport was issued to then President, Pratibha Patil. But further rollouts, to diplomats and other government officials, were held up until the concept was finally approved in 2017. While no dates have been confirmed for the next phase of the launch, what we do know is that the e-passport will have a chip that carries the traveller's biometric data and it will be stored on your phone.
As per the International Civil Aviation Organization, as many as 100 states and non-state entities (like the UN) have introduced e-passports for their citizens.