Chip enabled e-passports with high security features may soon be rolled out as government has started preparation for introducing it.
Replying to a question in Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for External Affairs V K Singh said the government has given approval for procurement of electronic contactless inlays for manufacturing of e-passports.
He said Nasik-based India Security Press (ISP) has been authorised to float a global tender for procurement of the contactless inlays along with its operating system.
The personal particulars of the applicants would be digitally signed and stored in the chip.
To a separate question, he said the number of Indian fishermen who are in custody of Sri Lanka is 35 while 65 fishermen are in custody of Pakistan.
In the last two years, he said Sri Lanka had released 708 Indian fishermen while Pakistan freed 858 fishermen.
"In addition, the number of fishermen released in 2017 by Pakistan and Sri Lanka as of March 20 is 218 and 136 respectively," he said.