India to issue biometric passports next year

New Delhi: Government has decided to introduce biometric passports, using sophisticated technology of finger prints, in the country by the end of next year.
It is aimed at restricting misuse of passports.
These will initially be introduced in the category of diplomatic and official passports, officials said.
Such passports, aimed at eliminating the scope of impersonation and other forms of manipulations are subsequently expected to be given to other categories of people.
These passports will have a chip, which will carry the finger print and all other details of its holder. The fingerprint will also be fed in the computer system of immigration officials at airports and ports. "Whenever anybody with this passport approaches an immigration officer, he will be required to put his finger print on the computer window. If the finger print matches, the person is cleared," an official said.
01/10/06 NDTV.com

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