In continuation of its efforts to make passport services more accessible and citizen-friendly, the RPO, Patna, will organize Passport Seva Mobile Van Camps at two locations in Gaya district—Bodhgaya Temple Management Committee from 21 to 22 September 2026 and Sherghati Sub-Divisional Office Campus from 23 to 25 September 2026. The initiative is part of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Government of India’s flagship outreach programme, “Passport Seva – Passport at Your Doorstep,” aimed at bringing passport services closer to citizens and promoting ease of access to public services in line with the vision of Viksit Bharat.

As the Post Office Passport Seva Kendra (POPSK), Gaya, receives a large number of passport applications, these special Passport Seva Mobile Van Camps are being organized to further augment passport service delivery and provide greater convenience to applicants. The camps are being conducted with the active cooperation of the District Administration to cater to the growing demand for passport-related services and facilitate timely and accessible service delivery to citizens of Gaya district and adjoining areas.

The growing demand for passport services at Gaya highlights the need for greater accessibility. Applications received increased from 7,518 in 2021 to 13,193 in 2025 (75.5% growth), while applications processed rose from 6,988 in 2021 to 12,380 (77.2% growth). The camps at Bodhgaya and Sherghati will help meet this growing demand by bringing passport-related services closer to applicants in the region.

The Passport Seva Mobile Van Camps at Bodhgaya and Sherghati mark the 21st such camp organized by the RPO, Patna, in Bihar since April 2024. This is 2^nd such camp in the district; first one was on IIM Bodhgaya in year 2024. Through these camps, organized across various districts and institutions in the State, around 3,000 applicants have so far benefited from accessible passport services closer to their place of residence.

The Passport Seva Mobile Van Camp at Bodhgaya will be jointly inaugurated on 21 September 2026 by Sh. Shashank Shubhankar, IAS, District Magistrate, Gaya, and Smt. Swadha Rizvi, IFS, Regional Passport Officer, Patna. The inauguration will mark the commencement of the two-day camp at Bodhgaya, followed by the Three-day camp at Sherghati from 23 to 25 September 2026.

Appointments for the Passport Seva Mobile Van Camps at Bodhgaya and Sherghati have been released on the Passport Seva Portal. A total of 275 appointment slots have been released for the five-day camp, with 55 slots available per day—110 slots for the two-day camp at Bodhgaya from 21 to 22 September 2026 and 165 slots for the three-day camp at Sherghati from 23 to 25 September 2026. Applicants intending to avail themselves of the facility may book an appointment by visiting www.passportindia.gov.in and selecting the respective Passport Seva Mobile Van Camp location at Bodhgaya or Sherghati as their preferred appointment location. Applicants are advised to ensure that appointments are booked only through the Passport Seva Portal and that all mandatory documents are complete before visiting the camp. They are also requested to report at the venue as per the time slot mentioned in their appointment confirmation to facilitate smooth and efficient processing.

The revised passport application fee notified by the Ministry of External Affairs, effective from 1 July 2026, will continue to apply to all applications submitted during the camps. Applicants are encouraged to verify the applicable fee and eligibility requirements before submitting their applications.

The Ministry of External Affairs continues to modernize passport service delivery through technology-enabled initiatives designed to make the application process simpler, faster and more secure. Applicants are encouraged to make use of DigiLocker, wherever applicable, for the secure submission and verification of eligible documents, thereby reducing dependence on physical documents and facilitating quicker processing.

Citizens are advised to rely only on official sources for passport-related information and updates. The RPO, Patna, regularly shares public advisories, announcements, outreach initiatives and details of special passport camps through its official social media handles (@RPOPatna). Applicants are also advised to avoid unauthorized agents or intermediaries and ensure that their application forms and supporting documents are complete before attending the camps to facilitate a smooth and hassle-free experience.

(Release ID: 2307852) Visitor Counter : 12