New Delhi:
The government decision to do away with the last page of passports is likely to give a big push to the Aadhaar Cards. The Ministry of External Affairs clarified that Passports will soon stop serving as a valid proof of address.
"As the last page of the passport would not be printed now, the passport holders with ECR (Emigration Check Required) status would be issued a passport with orange passport jacket and those with non-ECR status would continue to get a blue passport," said MEA spokesperson.
“The decision to keep the last page of the passport blank has been taken to protect the details contained,” he explained further.
On the other hand, JD Vaishampayan at the regional passport office in Pune only said, "some changes may happen soon".
For a while now, the Indian passports have been considered to be a significant proof of residency as the last page of the same includes photographs, names of the father or legal guardian, mother, spouse, and address.
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The MEA is also set to make some changes in the colour of passports. Currently, Passports are issued in three colours. While Government officers are generally issued a white passport, diplomats and common people have red and blue coloured passports respectively.
The Indian Security Press at Nashik will print the new ECR category passports.
However, all existing passports including ECR categories will remain valid till their expiry date.
