: Govt inks pact with TCS for passport services #finance #StockMarketNEWS #Business Agreement will initialise second phase of PSP New Delhi: The government on Friday inked an agreement with Tata

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Govt inks pact with TCS for passport services #finance #StockMarketNEWS #Business
Agreement will initialise second phase of PSP

New Delhi: The government on Friday inked an agreement with Tata Consultancy Services Ltd (TCS) for the second phase of the Passport Seva Programme (PSP-V2. 0) that envisages rolling out chip-enabled e-passports, increasing data security and ensuring the next level of customer experience.

After sealing the pact, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the government plans to embark on technology upgrades with the use of biometrics, artificial intelligence, advanced data analytics and auto-response under the PSP-V2. O.

The MEA also said it is working towards opening one passport services centre in every Lok Sabha constituency where there is no Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) or Post Office Passport Seva Kendra (POPSK).

“The Ministry of External Affairs today signed an agreement for the second phase of the Passport Seva Programme (PSP-V2. 0) with M/s Tata Consultancy Services Limited, our valued partner, appointing them as the service provider for the project,�? the MEA said.

Tata Consultancy Services Ltd has been involved as a service provider in the Passport Seva Project for over 10 years.

The financial component involved in the fresh deal is not yet known.

“The issuance of e-passports for enhanced customer satisfaction, increased security and next level of citizen experience will also be unveiled in the upgraded PSP-V 2. 0,�? the MEA said in a statement.

The e-passports will have advanced security features such as a chip storing personal details of a holder of the document embedded in the physical passport booklet.

The MEA said that to improve the quality of Government to Citizen (G2C) services, the “Passport Seva Programme would be embarking on technology upgrade with the use of biometrics, artificial intelligence, advance data analytics, chat-bot, auto-response, natural language processing, cloud enablement�?.

The PSP-V2. 0 is a continuation and enhancement of PSP-V1. 0, an e-governance instrument that the MEA said introduced “unprecedented�? transformation in the delivery of passport related services to citizens.

The TCS said it will refresh existing facilities and systems, and develop innovative solutions to enable the issuance of e-passports and further enhance the citizen experience, using latest technologies.

“The world-class experience delivered at the TCS-run Passport Seva Kendras (PSK) across the country made the service immensely popular and a source of national pride. Accessibility was further enhanced by extending the service through designated post offices and Indian missions and posts across the world,�? it said in a statement said.