Biometric-Based Immigration Checks Coming to Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru Airports Soon

The Indian government intends to implement biometric-based, automated immigration clearances at New Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru International Airports. In fact, this initiative is part of the government’s strategy to transform India’s airports into global transit hubs. Besides that, according to an ET report, the authentication process will use either facial recognition or fingerprints. Last week, Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia met with the chairman of the Airport Authority of India (AAI) and CEOs of private airports. He also inquired about the DIgi Yatra application. Currently, the DigiYatra app helps domestic travelers save time by providing a smooth, paperless experience. Initially, this system will only be available to international passengers. So, learn more about the most recent update below.

Characteristics of Biometric-Based Immigration Verification

• It does away with the need for actual passports.
• To confirm the passengers’ identities, facial recognition software and fingerprints will be used in place of paper.
• This action would further ease security and immigration issues once the cabinet has approved the mandate.
• It would facilitate the building of essential airport infrastructure.

When Will The Scheme Start To Include Indian Citizens?

Indian citizens will only be able to use the system after they receive E-Passports with both paper and electronic components. Until then, it would only be available to international passengers at New Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru airports.

So, if you are flying from the United States to India (for example, from New York to Mumbai), you will be able to use the facility at Mumbai Airport, Bengaluru Airport, or New Delhi Airport.

E-Passport, Benefits, and Features

An E-Passport is a passport with a chip containing the holder’s complete biometric information. It allows for the digital identification of critical details such as a person’s name, date of birth, and so on. As a result, this process improves the security and transparency of travel documentation, while also speeding up immigration checks.

Benefits of the E-Passport

Here are the main advantages of an E-Passport in India.

• An E-Passport, as a biometric identifier, can help to prevent fraudulent activities such as duplicate passport creation, data piracy, and so on.
• Because it is scannable, passengers can avoid standing in long lines and spending a lot of time waiting at checkpoints.
• It is impossible to erase data from an E-Passport.

Features of E-Passport

An E-Passport includes 41 features that make it a more secure alternative to traditional passports. Some of the key features are as follows.

• Authorities will issue e-passports by gathering biometric information from applicants.
• The holder’s digital signature verifies the authenticity of the data.
• There will be 64 kb of storage available on the passport’s embedded chip.
• It will capture data from each of the passport holder’s ten fingerprints.

DigiYatra – A Step Towards Digital India

DigiYatra enables contactless travel via facial recognition technology, which ensures a simple check-in and verification procedure at airports, saving time and facilitating a seamless boarding experience. According to Scindia, the DigiYatra service will be available in 25 more airports by 2024, including Mumbai Airport, Bengaluru Airport, Delhi Airport, and others.