"For reissue of passports, police verification is not required, provided the first passport had been issued on the basis of clear police report," the Minister told the House.

The reform will go a long way in cutting delays in the issuance of passports.

As per the existing provisions, minors, Government servants and senior citizens (65 years and above) are exempted from police verification subject to certain conditions, he said.

The 'Tatkaal' system for issuing passports for urgent travel will continue, he said.

It is understood that the Home Ministry will soon launch a country-wide online police verification project for passports to cut down delays.

Under the prposed system, the SP or the DCP will be given access to databases of the National Population Register, Aadhaar and the Crime and Criminal Tracking Network System (CCTNS) to enable online verification of identity, address and criminal record, if any, of the applicant.