Technical Glitch Halts Passport Services: Applicants Face Chaos and Uncertainty

A widespread technical problem within the Passport Seva Portal on Thursday caused major disruptions across Passport Seva Kendras (PSKs) throughout India. Applicants experienced significant delays and cancellations, with some discovering the system’s failure only upon arriving at their appointment locations. The outage persisted into Friday, leaving numerous passport applicants in a difficult position, particularly those with urgent travel requirements. Social media users voiced their dissatisfaction, emphasizing the absence of communication from authorities and the difficulties in rescheduling appointments within a short timeframe. Reports included screenshots of cancellation notifications received late at night, along with accounts of locked PSK gates and a lack of on-site assistance. Families and business travelers were particularly affected by the disruptions, with some expressing worry about the impact on their travel plans and visa applications. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the Passport Seva authorities remained silent during this period, compounding the challenges faced by individuals struggling with missed appointments and uncertain schedules. This is the second instance of such a disruption in recent months, with a similar event in April causing appointment backlogs and significant stress for travelers.