MoU
Renewed Between Ministry of External Affairs and Department of Posts
for Post Office Passport Seva Kendra Service Enhancement
Posted On: 05 DEC 2024 8:38PM by PIB Delhi
In
a significant development today, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
was renewed for five years between the Ministry of External Affairs
(MEA) and the Department of Posts for the continued accessibility of
passport services through the Post Office Passport Seva Kendras
(POPSKs). The MoU was signed by Ms. Manisha Bansal Badal, General
Manager, Business Development Directorate, on behalf of the Department
of Posts and Dr. K.J. Srinivasa, Joint Secretary (PSP & CPO) from
the Ministry of External Affairs.
The
MoU outlines a shared commitment to the effective management and
operational support of POPSKs, ensuring that the citizens of India
continue to receive world-class passport services at their nearest post
offices.
Launched
in 2017, the Post Office Passport Seva Kendras (POPSKs) service has
been instrumental in facilitating passport-related services to over 1.52
Crore citizens, particularly in rural and underserved areas, ensuring
wider accessibility to passport services for citizens across India. The
network of Post Office Passport Seva Kendras (POPSKs) has grown
significantly over the years, with 442 centres currently operational
nationwide.
This
MoU strengthens the collaboration between the Ministry of External
Affairs and the Department of Posts, aiming to enhance service delivery,
streamline operations, and address the increasing demand for
passport-related services. As part of this initiative, the number of
Passport Seva Kendra’s is planned to be extended to 600 centres across
the country by 2028-29, ensuring greater accessibility and convenience
for citizens expanding the annual customer base from 35 lakh to 1 crore
over the next five years,
This
initiative reflects the collaborative effort of both ministries to
improving the citizen experience by ensuring a seamless, accessible, and
efficient passport issuance process. It will further strengthen India’s
postal network, making passport services more convenient, reliable, and
easily accessible to all citizens.
Ms.
Manisha Bansal Badal, General Manager, Business Development, Department
of Posts, Dr. K.J. Srinivasa, Joint Secretary (PSP & CPO) -
Ministry of External Affairs.
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SB/DP/ARJ
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