Indian Passport: Only 7.20 percent of the country's citizens have passports, the figure will touch 10 crores in a few months

7.20 percent of the citizens of the country have passports. By the middle of December, passports of 9.6 crore people had been made. Most of these passports have been made in the last decade. This figure is going to reach 10 crores in the next few months.

According to Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) data, over 2.2 crores or nearly a quarter (23%) of passports were issued in Kerala and Maharashtra. Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Gujarat, and Karnataka are among other large states with high numbers.

However, compared to the 75 years of independence, this number of total passports is minor. The reason for this is that till recently the policy of issuing passports was very strict. Recently, the apprehension of going abroad has increased, so the number of people getting passports has also increased. That is why the Central Government is increasing the number of Passport Seva Kendras (PSKs).

Passports being made in just 6 days

Due to the liberal and easy passport policy of the government, now on average passports are made in six days, whereas in 2015 it used to take 21 days. At least 368 new Passport Seva Kendras to be set up between 2015 and 2022. There is a 340 percent increase in the number of PSKs in 2022 as compared to 153 in 2014. Passports are also issued in more than 140 Indian Missions abroad.

1.1 crore passports were issued this year

The number of passport applicants is increasing due to an increase in per capita income in the country, relaxation of regulations, and an increase in education and job opportunities abroad. This year till December 12, more than 1.1 crore passports have been issued. Of these, 10.5 percent are issued by Indian missions abroad. This is 36% more than the number of passports issued in 2021 and 81.5% more in 2020 than the Covid-19 year.

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