Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday announced that e-passports would be rolled out in 2022-23 for more convenience to the public.
The e-passports will use embedded chips and futuristic technology, she explained in her budget speech in the Lok Sabha.
The e-passports will have more security features and will use Radio-Frequency Identification and biometrics, according to officials.
The passport will have an electronic chip with security-related data encoded on it and will be in accordance with international norms, officials said.
The e-passport is expected to facilitate smooth passage through immigration posts globally and provide more security as they would be based on biometric data.
Currently passports are issued in booklet form.