New Delhi: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has awarded the Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) Police one of the best-performing police forces in India for outstanding contributions to passport verification services for the year 2024-25, marking the 13th Passport Seva Divas.
According to official data, J&K Police finalised 134,219 passport application verifications between April 2024 and March 2025, considered an “exceptional disposal rate” and a “commitment to timely service delivery”, said a statement from the J&K Police.
The Passport Seva Divas—celebrated between 23 and 25 June this year—commemorates the enactment of the Passport Act, 1967.
This year’s celebrations were held at Delhi’s Jawaharlal Nehru Bhawan Wednesday in the presence of Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita, senior MEA officials, government departments, representatives from 37 passport offices across the country, officials from Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and other key service providers.
“One of the key highlights of this year’s observance was the recognition of exemplary performance in the crucial area of police/CID verification by Jammu and Kashmir Police, an essential component in the passport issuance process,” the statement added.
This “recognition is a testament to the relentless efforts of the officers and officials of the CID and police departments”, who stepped beyond their “comfort zones and worked tirelessly to ensure quick and efficient passport application verifications”.
Margherita presented J&K Police with a certificate of recognition. The force was represented by IPS officer Rayees Mohammad Bhat, deputy inspector general of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).
“This is the first time that the dedicated efforts of J&K Police in the timely disposal of passport cases have been formally acknowledged at the national level,” the statement added.
Andhra Pradesh Police was also awarded the Certificate of Recognition for exemplary passport verifications.
(Edited by Sanya Mathur)
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