New Delhi, August 29: The Passport Seva portal has been temporarily shut down for technical maintenance, leaving applicants unable to schedule or manage appointments until September 2. During this downtime, citizens will be unable to book new appointments or access existing ones, leading to the rescheduling of all appointments initially set for August 30. The maintenance is aimed at ensuring the system's reliability and efficiency for future use.

According to the notice on the portal at passportindia.gov.in, the system will be down from 8:00 PM IST on August 29, 2024, until 6:00 AM IST on September 2, 2024. The notice further states, "System will not be available during this period for citizens and for all MEA/RPO/BOI/ISP/DoP/Police Authorities. The already booked appointments for 30th August 2024 will be suitably rescheduled and informed to applicants." Passport Ranking: World’s Most Powerful Passports 2024 List Released, Know Where India Ranks.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has clarified that the temporary shutdown of the Passport Seva portal is part of a routine maintenance exercise aimed at ensuring the system’s continued efficiency. According to an NDTV report, the MEA emphasized that such maintenance activities are planned in advance to avoid significant disruptions for the public. Dhaka Unrest: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar Says MEA Fully Focused on Ensuring Safety of Indians in Bangladesh.

The ministry has assured that contingency plans are in place for rescheduling appointments, so applicants should not face major challenges. The MEA’s goal is to manage the rescheduling process smoothly, minimizing any inconvenience to those affected by the portal’s downtime. The Passport Seva portal is an online platform provided by the Government of India for managing passport-related services, including applications for new passports, renewals, and other related requests.

To apply for a passport, users need to visit the Passport Seva portal and register for an account. After logging in, applicants can fill out the passport application form, upload necessary documents, and schedule an appointment at a nearby Passport Seva Kendra (PSK). Depending on the selected service mode, either regular or Tatkaal, the passport will be dispatched to the applicant's address within the specified timeframe.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 29, 2024 10:45 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).