Chip-Based E-ports With Advanced Security Features to Be Issued Soon 73333i

Plans are afoot to issue e-ports with advanced security features such as a chip storing personal details of an applicant embedded in the physical port booklet, the government informed Thursday.

In a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha Minister of State for External Affairs V. Muraleedharan said incase anyone tampers with the chip, the system shall be able to identify it resulting in the failure of the port authentication.

Asked whether the government is considering to come out with ports with advanced security features, the minister answered in the affirmative and said the personal particulars of the applicant would be digitally signed and stored in the chip, which would be embedded in the physical port booklet.

The government has given its approval for procurement of electronic less inlays for manufacturing of e-ports to the India Security Press (ISP) Nasik, he said.

In this regard, ISP, Nasik, has been authorised to float a global three-stage tender for procurement of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO)-compliant electronic less inlays along with its operating system, which is required for the manufacture of e-ports, Muraleedharan said.

The manufacture of e-port will commence on the successful completion of the tendering and procurement process by the ISP, he said. Responding to another question on whether port Seva Project has been issuing one crore ports every year, the minister said, "Yes. The ministry issued more than 1.12 crore ports in 2018 and 1.08 crore ports in 2017 in India."