New Delhi, February 1: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday announced that e-passport will be started from next year for more convenience to the public. She said that e-passports will use embedded chips and futuristic technology.
Union Finance Minister said, the e-passport will have more security features and will use radio-frequency identification and biometrics. Passports will be as per international rules.
“The passport jacket will have an electronic chip on which security data will be encoded. Passports are currently issued in booklet form. E-passports are expected to facilitate movement globally,” she added.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Tuesday that 5G mobile services will be rolled out this year.
Sitharaman presented the Union Budget 2022-23 in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday.
She told that this year 5G spectrum will be auctioned. Performance-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme will be introduced to manufacture equipment connected to 5G services in the country. Along with this, there are plans to expand broadband in rural areas, especially in remote areas.
She said that five per cent of the annual collection would be spent under Universal Service Obligation Fund to enable affordable broadband and mobile service spread in rural and remote areas. It will promote R&D and commercialization of technology and solutions.
She added further that under BharatNet connectivity project, fiber optical cables (FOC) will be laid in many areas under Bharat Net project through PPP in 2022-23. This work is expected to be completed across the country in 2025.
