Indian government scraps decision to issue orange colour passport

"A decision was taken by the Ministry of External Affairs on the recommendations of a three Member Committee comprising officials of MEA and the Ministry of Women and Child Development, not to print the last page of Passport Booklet. MEA also took the decision to issue a passport with orange colour jacket to passport holders with ECR status, with a view to help and assist them on priority basis," the MEA said in a statement.
The government said it took the decision to scrap its plan after receiving several individual and collective representations requesting to reconsider these two decisions.

"The MEA has received several individual and collective representations requesting to reconsider these two decisions," the government said in its statement.

The government said it has decided to continue with the current practice of printing of the last page of the passport and not to issue a separate passport with orange colour jacket to ECR passport holders.

The decision was taken during a meeting chaired by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.

The government said: "  At a meeting chaired by Smt. Sushma Swaraj, External Affairs Minister, on 29th January, 2018, in the presence of General (Retd.) Dr. V.K. Singh, Minister of State for External Affairs, the decision of the MEA on both these issues was reviewed in the light of these representations. After comprehensive discussions with the various stakeholders, the MEA has decided to continue with the current practice of printing of the last page of the passport and not to issue a separate passport with orange colour jacket to ECR passport holders.