The Ministry of External Affairs announced that the passports for the Emigration Check Required (ECR) category will be issued with orange jackets.
The passports in the Emigration Check Not Required (ECNR) category will continue to have blue jacket.
It also announced that the last page of the passport and other travel documents issued under the Passports Act, 1967 and Passport Rules, 1980 would no longer be printed.
Persons who don’t have a minimum educational qualification of 10th standard will come under ECR category.
Passport types in India
Regular Passport - This has a navy blue cover; it is issued to citizens for ordinary travel like vacations and business trips.
Diplomatic Passport - This has a maroon cover; it is issued to Indian diplomats, top-ranking government officials (joint secretary and above) and diplomatic couriers.
Official Passport - This has a white cover; it is issued to individuals representing the Indian government on official business.