The Central Government of India is working on a plan for issuing biometric passports or e-passports by early 2009. The government is in talks with France-based Sagem Securite for the project. The proposed e-passports will have micro-processor based digital storage devices embedded in them which, besides containing the usual information concerning the passport and its holder, will also have certain features, such as finger prints and facial recognition biometrics of the holder. Travel agents who currently offer passport services fear the biometric passports could cause a loss of revenue.

Read the full article here.