Pune News : Special Passport Drive to be held in July and August in Pune
In a move aimed at improving passport appointment availability, the Central Government has announced a special passport drive for the months of July and August in Pune. The initiative, led by the Ministry of External Affairs, aims to facilitate smoother passport application processes for residents of Pune.
As part of this drive, the Passport Seva Kendras (PSKs) and certain Post Office Passport Seva Kendras (POPSKS) under the jurisdiction of the Regional Passport Office in Pune will extend their working hours to include Saturdays. This means that the PSKs and POPSKs will be open on July 15, July 22, and August 5, 2023, providing additional opportunities for individuals to book fresh passport appointments or reschedule their existing appointments.
To secure a fresh appointment, applicants are required to complete the application process online at https://www.passportindia.gov.in/ and make the payment electronically. Following this, they must log in to the same website to verify the payment status and book their appointment. Once the appointment is confirmed, applicants can download the receipt from the portal.
For individuals applying under the Tatkaal Scheme, the following guidelines apply:
- Applicants aged 18 years and above must submit any three documents listed at https://www.passportindia.gov.in/AppOnlineProject/online/tatkaalPassports, along with address and non-ECR proofs, as applicable.
- Applicants below the age of 18 years are required to submit any two documents listed at https://www.passportindia.gov.in/AppOnlineProject/online/tatkaalPassports, along with address and non-ECR proofs, as applicable. It is important to ensure that the details mentioned in all the documents, such as complete name, date of birth, and father’s name, match accurately. Small cut-out Aadhaar cards or smart cards printed by non-UIDAI entities will not be accepted.
It is worth noting that the Tatkaal scheme is a priority service and not a premium service. It entails additional document requirements and has specific eligibility criteria. Therefore, it is reserved for applicants with genuine and urgent passport needs.
To prevent misuse and trivialization of the Tatkaal scheme, strict enforcement of eligibility and document criteria is in place. Applicants falling into ineligible categories or lacking the necessary documents will not be accepted under the Tatkaal scheme. On the day of their appointments at the PSK, such applicants will be required to request an “Application EDIT” option to convert their Tatkaal scheme applications into Normal scheme applications. They will then need to reschedule their appointments accordingly.
For detailed information about the Tatkaal scheme, applicants are urged to thoroughly read the available information and undertaking at: https://www.passportindia.gov.in/AppOnlineProject/online/tatkaalPassports.
