Investigation into Media Misrepresentations and Inaccurate Reporting of PM's Remarks on Passport Matters

In December 2016, the government announced changes to passport rules that have caused some confusion in the media. The Prime Minister discussed these changes during a speech, which sparked news stories about women being able to retain their maiden names in passports. However, it's important to clarify that these changes do not specifically address the issue of maiden names in passport applications.

The new rules do affect the naming convention in passports. Single parents, for instance, can now apply for passports for their children without having to mention both the father's and mother's name. The choice of whether to include the father's or mother's name in the passport belongs to the applicant, not just women.

For married individuals, it is mandatory to fill in the name of the spouse in the passport application. However, it is not mandatory to submit the marriage certificate. Similarly, married applicants are no longer required to provide Annexure K or any marriage certificate.

Women are no longer required to submit marriage certificates or divorce decrees while applying for passports. This change applies to all applicants, regardless of their marital status.

It's worth noting that a woman always had the choice to retain her maiden name or change it after marriage in her passport. However, name changes cannot be entered in an existing passport, and a new passport must be applied for if a name change occurs, such as after marriage.

The media has misinterpreted and misreported some of the PM's statements, claiming they referred to women's maiden names in passports. In reality, the PM's statements about passports, made in December 2016, were not exclusively about women's maiden names in passports.

The new passport rules also include changes that affect the submission of certificates. For example, the need for marriage certificates and divorce decrees has been eliminated from the passport application process.

In summary, the December 2016 passport rule changes have brought about several significant updates, including the ability for single parents to issue passports without mentioning both the father's and mother's name, the elimination of the need for marriage certificates and divorce decrees, and the continuation of the choice for individuals to retain their maiden name or change it in their passport. It's crucial to separate fact from fiction when interpreting these changes to ensure accurate information is being shared.

Investigation into Media Misrepresentations and Inaccurate Reporting of PM's Remarks on Passport Matters