PROBIZ International - Vol-1 Probiz File final | Page 42
LEGALLY YOURS
MEA gifted the easier way to
file passport applications
T
he Ministry of
External Affairs
(MEA) has amended
rules to make the
application process
for seeking a passport
easy and simple. This
is a smart move by the
government to encourage
the people to apply
for passport. The new
changes brought into
effect from 2017 which
include documentation
for proof of birth, details
of parent/ legal guardian,
annexes, attestations,
married/ divorced person,
work related urgent
passports.
Earlier submitting
a birth certificate
was compulsory for all
applicants born on/after
26th January 1989. Now
under the new rules,
any of the documents
containing the DOB of
the applicant will be
sufficient.
The new passport
rules also amend the
system of requiring
names of both parents at
the time of application.
An applicant now only
needs to provide the
name of either one of
the parents or the legal
guardian. This makes it
easier for children with
single parents or orphans
to apply for a passport.
The total number of
annexes has been bought
down from 15 to 9.
Lesser annexes means
less trouble for applicant
to collate documentation.
As annexes needed
attestation from a
Notary/ Executive
Magistrate/ First Class
Judicial Magistrate
previously, henceforth
all these annexes can
now be in the form of
a self-declaration from
the applicant on plain
paper. This will spare the
applicant from running
around the authorities for
attestation.
The need for a
marriage certificate
has been discontinued.
Also, in case of a divorce
the applicant will not
be required to provide
the name of their
spouse. This is another
interesting change that
has been made taking into
consideration changing
societal norms.
For urgent passports,
if a government employee
is unable to procure
the NOC (no objection
certificate) or identity
certificate from their
employers, they can
submit a self-declaration
stating that they have
given a prior intimation
letter to their employer
informing that they are
applying for an ordinary
passport to a passport
issuing authority.
The centre has
announced that new
passports will be
dispensed without
physical verification. The
new plan is to connect
the passport verification
process with crime and
criminal tracking network
and system project.
Now own bigger homes under PM Awas Yojana
H
ere is good news for home buyers in cities.
Changes have been made in government’s
affordable housing scheme Pradhan Mantri Awas
Yojana-Urban.
The increase in the carpet area of a house under
PMAY-U has been affected across all middle income
group categories. For Middle Income Group-I (MIG-I),
the carpet area has been increased from 120 sq
m to 160 sq m. It has been increased from 150 sq
m to 200 sq m in the case of MIG -II. This decision
for MIG section was done after inputs from various
stakeholders
The new rules of the scheme have been given
retrospective effect which became operational from
January 2017. Under the Credit Linked Subsidy
Scheme (CLSS), each beneficiary can avail subsidy up
to Rs 2.35 lakh on purchase of home.
A 4% interest subsidy is available on loans up to
Rs 9 lakh for people with an annual income between
Rs 6-12 lakh under MIG-I plan. 3 % interest subsidy is
given on loans up to Rs 12 lakh to people with income
42
August 2018
between Rs 12-18 lakh p.a. An amount of Rs 736
crore had been disbursed to 35,204 beneficiaries
belonging to the MIG category as of June 11. Earlier,
the Centre approved the construction of 1.5 lakh
houses for urban poor under the PMAY-U.