In India, getting a passport requires a proof of age, such as a birth certificate, along with other documents. The main problem was that most persons born before January 26, 1989 did not have a birth certificate.
Citizens without a birth certificate were required to provide a Certificate of Recognized boards or any certificate from a recognized institution. Another document that was acceptable was an affidavit sworn before a magistrate stating date or place of birth.
Recently, it has been declared that aside from the previously stated documents, individuals can use a driver's license, and election photo identity card. Applicants can also use policy bonds issued by Life Insurance Corporations or an extract of employee's service records. PAN card and Aadhar card can now be used as long as it has the applicant's date of birth on it.
A three-member Committee which comprised of the Ministry of External Affairs and Ministry of Women and Child Development made recommendations for change. Changes were accepted with regards to certain special cases.
One of the changes is that only one parent or a legal guardian is needed for an online passport application. This means that single parents can apply for their child/children's passport.
Orphaned children can now provide a declaration given by the head of the orphanage to confirm their date of birth. This is now the alternative compared to a matriculation certificate or declaratory court order.
Sadhus or holy men can now apply for a passport given that they provide the name of their spiritual Guru. Their spiritual Gurus can now be recorded along the column designated for their parent's name.
All these changes are in order to hasten and ease the process of acquiring a passport. This is also to further their cause for liberalisation on certain domestic issues such as single parenthood.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
