KUWAIT: The Indian Embassy, Kuwait will soon start issuing passports with improved security features in order to prevent fraud and counterfeiting of passports. "We will also start issuing passports with enhanced security features soon along with other Indian foreign missions across the world," said Indian Ambassador Satish C Mehta. The application forms currently in use would remain the same.
The ambassador, however, did not elaborate on the improved security features that are being introduced to avoid misuse and fraud. The passports offices in India started issuing passports with additional security features from last month. India's ministry of external affairs had proposed several security features with a view to making Indian passport tamper-proof following several incidents of counterfeiting by fraudsters. Instances of fraudsters replacing photographs in order to make fake passports have been reported.
According to sources, the new Indian passports will contain phantom images of the passport holder apart from the photographs currently appearing in the passport. The new passports have been issued with one ghost photograph which will contain embedded details.
The ghost photo in the passport will make it more secure and tamper- proof, the sources added. In the new passport, personal particulars of holders will be printed on the second page instead of the inner cover page. The other particulars of passport holders would be printed on page 35 instead of the last page. Similarly, the signature and seal of the passport issuing authority will be printed on the front overleaf page instead of page one. The existing passports will be replaced by the new version only upon their expiry, the sources added. Talking about the new visa processing system, the ambassador informed that the Indian embassy in Kuwait would soon implement online visa application system replacing the current system after carrying out required systems up-gradation in the embassy
© Kuwait Times 2013
