Patna: Bihar Police has been recognised as one of the top-performing state forces in the country for its efficiency in passport verification services, receiving a Certificate of Recognition at the Passport Seva Project Conference held in New Delhi by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
This marks the first time since the award’s inception in 2013 that Bihar Police has been honoured for its role in facilitating passport and related services. Inspector General (Special Branch) Rakesh Rathi accepted the award on behalf of the state force from Minister of State for External Affairs, Pabitra Margherita.
Director General of Police (DGP) Vinay Kumar welcomed the honour, citing the state’s continued efforts to deliver public services in a timely and transparent manner. “Bihar has long been a pioneer in public service reforms, being the first state to enact the Right to Public Services Act in 2011,” he said. “We are grateful to the MEA for recognising our commitment to ensuring hassle-free passport verification, and I commend our officers and staff for their sustained efforts.”
In 2024, the Regional Passport Office (RPO) in Patna forwarded approximately 4.78 lakh applications for police verification — a 2.6-fold increase over the past five years. Despite this rise, the average processing time has improved, with verifications now taking 13 days, down from 18 in 2019. The Bihar Police and RPO Patna have set a goal to reduce this to single digits, joining states like Kerala, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh which have already achieved this benchmark.
However, district-level data reveals significant disparities. Siwan district records an average verification time of 20 days, while Khagaria stands out with just five. Authorities attribute the variation to the sheer volume of applications from high-emigration districts including Gopalganj, East and West Champaran, Saran, Muzaffarpur and Madhubani.
To streamline the process and equip police personnel with necessary skills, RPO Patna has been conducting regular training sessions in collaboration with the Special Branch, Bihar Police Academy, and district police units, with technical assistance from Tata Consultancy Services. Four such sessions have been held recently, including one in preparation for the rollout of biometric chip passports and an upgraded Passport Seva portal across Bihar on 12 May. “We’re working to institutionalise this training within the police curriculum,” said RPO Patna head, Swadha Rizvi.
Swadha Rizvi also noted the force’s proactive stance in tackling passport-related fraud. “Bihar Police has actively responded to cases involving touts and fraudulent passport holders, playing a crucial role in maintaining internal security and preventing transborder crimes.”
