Major passport rule change: Who will be affected, documents needed, new passport features

Indian passports will no longer have certain details that reveal users' personal details. Now, the newly issued passport will not have the user's address. Instead, immigration officers can avail the data by scanning the barcode on the page. Moreover, parents' names will also be omitted to avoid difficulties for single parents and children of divorced families. The colour of the passports will also change now. While diplomats will have red passports, government employees will have white, and others will have blue-coloured passports. A few days ago, the foreign affairs ministry officially announced amendments to Section 24 of the Passport Act 1967, altering the required document for birth date verification. The changes will come into effect from the date it gets published in the official gazette. 

Documents needed
The changes will mainly affect those born on or after 2023 October 1. When they apply for passport, only the birth certificate will be accepted as proof, now on. It should be issued by the Municipal Corporation or any other authority authorised to issue it under The Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969. However, those born before October 1, 2023, can also submit any of the following for the purpose:
1) Transfer Certificate from the last school
2) School certificate proving date of birth
3) PAN card
4) Service records, if govt employees (authorised by their superior officer. Retired employees can submit retirement documents)

5) Driving licence
6) Voter's ID card
7) Insurance document from LIC or public sector undertakings
These are allowed as it's common for those from remote villages not to have birth certificates. Please visit here for those who want more details or to apply for a passport.