Students seeking passports can now have their applications processed without having to produce original education certificates. They will now also have a hassle-free experience under the new student connect programme launched by the ministry of external affairs under its passport seva project. The student connect programme will be inaugurated in Ahmedabad. As a part of the programme, passport offices will accept attested copy of education certificates, instead of original certificates. The student will have to provide a bona fide certificate from respective institute. The student connect programme will also enable them to visit the passport seva office without prior appointment. The applicants will have to provide an application reference number. Passport officials said educational institutions ask students to submit their original certificates during the time of admission, so it becomes difficult for them to produce the same while applying for passports. “Students usually wait for the college tenure to end and then apply for passports,“ said an official.
Source – Times of India – Ahmedabad – 29th November 2016
