New Delhi: The Passport Seva portal will be offline for five days starting today, 29 August 2024. According to the official website, this downtime is due to scheduled maintenance and will last from Thursday, 20:00 IST, until Monday, 2 September 2024, 06:00 IST.
During this scheduled maintenance, the Passport Seva system will be unreachable. This means that it won’t be available to citizens, as well as MEA, RPO, BOI, ISP, DoP, and Police Authorities.
Impact on Scheduled Appointments
As for the appointments already booked for 30 August 2024, don’t worry. The Passport Seva website mentions that these appointments will be rescheduled. Applicants will be informed about the new dates so they can plan accordingly.
“Passport Seva portal will be down for technical maintenance from 29th August 2024, Thursday 20:00 hrs IST to 2nd September, Monday 06:00 hrs IST. System will not be available during this period for citizens and for all MEA/RPO/BOI/ISP/DoP/Police Authorities. The already booked appointments for 30th August 2024 will be suitably rescheduled and informed to applicants,” states the website.
Beware of Fake Websites and Mobile Apps
The Ministry of External Affairs has cautioned everyone about fraudulent websites and mobile applications. These fake platforms are collecting applicants’ data while charging hefty fees for filling out online application forms and scheduling appointments for passport services.
“It’s come to the notice of the Ministry that many fraudulent websites and mobile applications are collecting data from applicants and also levying additional hefty charges for filling up the online application form and scheduling appointment for Passport and related services. Some of these fake websites are registered in the domain names .org, .in, *.com such as www.indiapassport.org, www.online-passportindia.com, www.passportindiaportal.in, www.passport-india.in, www.passport-seva.in, www.applypassport.org and many other similar-looking websites,” adds the ministry.
Stick to Official Channels
The ministry strongly advises all citizens applying for passports and related services to avoid these fraudulent websites. The official website for applying for passport services is www.passportindia.gov.in.
You can also use the official mobile app, mPassport Seva, available for download from both Android and iOS app stores. This ensures your data is secure, and you are not paying any unnecessary extra charges.
Maintenances like these are essential to ensure systems are running smoothly, but they can be a bit inconvenient. Planning ahead and staying updated through official sources can help make this period less troublesome.
In conclusion, while the portal’s downtime might cause some inconvenience, it’s a necessary step to make sure the system works efficiently in the long run. Just remember to use the genuine website and mobile app for your passport needs to avoid falling victim to scams. Keep an eye out for updates from the Passport Seva official site regarding your rescheduled appointments, and continue to stay alert for any fraudulent activities.
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