Now Reading: India adds 11 ports for e-visa holders, total reaches 88
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India adds 11 ports for e-visa holders, total reaches 88
The Union Home Ministry has added 11 international ports where foreign nationals holding e-Visas can enter India, taking the total authorised points to 88. The new entries include nine land ports, Attari,…
The Story in Brief
The Union Home Ministry has added 11 international ports where foreign nationals holding e-Visas can enter India, taking the total authorised points to 88. The new entries include nine land ports, Attari, Moreh, Dawki, Jaigaon, Haridaspur, Gede, Ghojadanga, Darranga and Agartala, plus airports at Bhopal and Tirupati. The network now covers 37 airports, 38 seaports and 13 land ports.
The government said the move aims to simplify travel for legitimate visitors while strengthening security through technology. Nearly 95% of e-Visa applications are processed within 72 hours, and e-Visas now account for 78% of all visas India issues. The facility, launched in 2014 for 43 countries, is now open to citizens of 172 nations across 17 categories including tourism, business, medical and student travel.
The Indian Opinion
The e-Visa expansion is sold as a tourism fillip, but it quietly standardises entry rules under the new Immigration Act. The exclusion of Pakistani passport holders, noted by Mathrubhumi, and the claim that 95% of applications clear in 72 hours will test the balance between convenience and security. Voters should watch fraud data from the newly opened land ports, that rate will tell if the system is merely fast or actually safe.
Sources (3): newindianexpress.com, english.mathrubhumi.com, thehindu.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the 3 sources linked above.
Updated: this story now draws on 3 sources.
