Passport Seva Kendra portal to be shut for maintenance till Sept 2

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The Passport Seva portal will be closed for technical maintenance for five days, from Thursday 8pm to Monday, September 2, 6am, stated a notice by the Ministry Of External Affairs (MEA).

During this period, applicants will not be able to schedule fresh appointments while the pre-booked ones will be rescheduled.

"Passport Seva portal will be down for technical maintenance from 29th August 2024, Thursday 20:00 hrs IST to 2nd September, Monday 06:00 hrs IST. System will not be available during this period for citizens and for all MEA/RPO/BOI/ISP/DoP/Police Authorities. The already booked appointments for 30th August 2024 will be suitably rescheduled and informed to applicants," the notice read by MEA read.

According to news reports, MEA said this is a routine procedure.

In March, too, the portal was shut for a three-day maintenance after developing technical issues, adversely affecting the online application process as well as appointment bookings of thousands of applicants for visits to the Passport Seva Kendras across the country.

Meanwhile, in other news from MEA, India and Israel held the 17th Round of Foreign Office Consultations on Wednesday, during which Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri shared India's concern at the escalating situation in West Asia and emphasised over restraint, dialogue, and diplomacy.

According to MEA, the Israeli delegation was led by the Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Yaakov Blitshtein.

"Reflecting on the strength of the India-Israel Strategic Partnership, both sides discussed various issues of bilateral interest in depth and reviewed the entire gamut of bilateral endeavours. The two sides also shared views on the prevailing situation in West Asia and the Indo-Pacific," the ministry added.

Further, during the event, the Foreign Secretary also reiterated India's strong and unequivocal condemnation of the October 7 terror attacks on Israel and called for the immediate release of all hostages and a ceasefire.

"Reiterating India's strong and unequivocal condemnation of the October 7 terror attacks on Israel, the Foreign Secretary called for the unconditional and immediate release of all hostages, ceasefire, the need for continued humanitarian assistance, and adherence to international humanitarian law. At the same time, he also shared India's concern at the escalating situation in West Asia and emphasized restraint, dialogue, and diplomacy," said MEA.

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal in a post on X said, "17th India-Israel FOC held in New Delhi today. Foreign Secretary @VikramMisri reviewed the entire range of - bilateral relations and the strategic partnership together with @IsraelMFA DG Yaakov Blitshtein."

(With ANI inputs)