Daijiworld Media Network

New Delhi, Jan 13: The last page in the passport which carries vital details like address, father's name and the name of the mother or spouse may not be printed anymore, a new decision by the foreign ministry.

Also, orange passports will be issued to those who require emigration checks, which will help speed up processes at airport.

The decision comes after a report by a joint panel of foreign ministry and Women and Child Development ministry officials. The department received several requests for doing away with the father's name in the passport.

A foreign ministry spokesperson confirmed that the report has been accepted and the last page of the passport will be blank in the new series. However, the requisite information will still be stored in the system of the external affairs ministry, so it will not affect the government's working.

The new move aims to protect the details of the citizens. However, this means that one cannot use the passport as an address proof.

"As the last page of the passport would not be printed now, the passport holders with ECR (Emigration Check Required) status would be issued a passport with orange passport jacket and those with non-ECR status would continue to get a blue passport," said the spokesperson.

Passports currently are issued in three colours. Government officers have a white passport, diplomats are issued red passports and all other passports are blue.

Indian Security Press, Nasik will design the new passports and will be handed to citizens after their existing ones expire.