You will no longer need a valid birth certificate to apply for a passport. This is a part of the government’s vision in streamlining the passport making process so that the document can be issued at ease.
To get a passport, applicants can now submit their Aadhaar or PAN card, among other documents, to establish proof of birth. The new regulations have been informed to the parliament, reported The Times of India.
Earlier, according to the Passport Rules 1980, all applicants born on and after 26/01/1989, had to mandatorily submit a birth certificate. Now they can submit transfer/school leaving/Matriculation Certificate issued by any recognised educational board, having the date of birth (DOB) of the applicant. They can also furnish the PAN Card, Aadhaar Card/E-Aadhaar, Driving Licence and even LIC policy bonds as all of these include the DOB.
New Norms Applicants who are above 60 and below 8 years of age will get an additional 10% discount on fees on applying for a new passport. The passport will have printed personal details both in Hindi and English. Apart from this, the government has also allowed digitally signed marriage certificates as valid proof of marriage. Orphaned children will only need a document from their orphanage to confirm the date of their birth. Married couples won’t have to provide marriage certificates henceforth. They would no longer have to mention the name of the spouse if they are divorced or separated. Additionally, applicants who would apply online can mention the name of only one parent or guardian. This move will be helpful for single parents as well. The process of application has also undergone a change. The annexes have been reduced from 15 to 9. They can be printed in plain paper and self attested. No attestation/swearing by/before any Notary/Executive Magistrate/First Class Judicial Magistrate would be henceforth necessary.
