No need for birth cert to get passport





Continuing the process of simplifying passports for citizens, the Centre informed Parliament this week that Aadhaar or PAN card among a host of documents could be used to establish proof of birth, instead of the mandatory provision of submitting birth certificate for all applicants born on or after January 26, 1989. Online applicants need only provide the name of one parent or guardian, not both, helping single-parent families. The aim is to make passports easily available to millions more, minister of state for external affairs V K Singh said while answering a question in Parliament.