India Security Press (a unit of Security Printing and Minting Corporation of India) has invited tenders for the procurement of 22.5 million ICAO-complaint electronic contactless inlays for Indian ePassports.In accordance with ICAO recommendations to incorporate biometric data in the Machine Readable Travel Documents, India is upgrading its existing passports to electronic category of ePassports, the Authentication Solution Providers' Association noted in a statement.India today is third behind China and the United States in terms of global passport issuance, according to data released by the External Affairs Ministry of India.During 2015, 12 million passport and related services were provided by the Ministry. Out of this, approximately 1.3 million passport and related services were delivered by 183 Missions and Posts abroad, noted ASPA. Overall, at home and abroad this represents an increase of 21% over 2014.The number of passports issued also rose from around 6 million five years ago to 12 million last year. As of 31 December, 2015, 63.2 million citizens held valid passports (up from 57 million in 2014 and 51.9 million in 2013).

Also in the news:

Default ThumbnailCarrying on as normal: Virus appears to be contained as passport issuance resumes Default ThumbnailOasis Smart SIM partners with ARIADNEXT, Default ThumbnailIdentity Week 2021 confirms first 100 speakers