Latest news with #OTP-based
Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
Bidhannagar cops make body cams, CCTV must for passport verification
Kolkata: Aimed at enhancing transparency and security in the passport verification process, Bidhannagar City Police has made it mandatory for all passport verifications to be conducted under camera surveillance — either through body cams during home visits or CCTV systems in police stations — from this month. The move comes at a time when Kolkata Police is investigating a fake passport racket and have arrested a retired sub-inspector for allegedly clearing applications without proper enquiry and adequate verification. Officers said the move will also help them reduce complaints from residents about officers, civic volunteers and middlemen demanding money or harassing applicants in the name of additional documentation. "Now, all passport verifications are being conducted under body camera surveillance. In the case of home verification, only representatives from the Special Branch are visiting the houses of applicants, and the entire process is being recorded. The footage is being stored until the passport is issued. At police stations, the passport verification process is being conducted strictly under CCTV monitoring with audio recording," said Tauseef Ali Azhar, ADCP SB of Bidhannagar City Police. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Buy Brass Idols - Handmade Brass Statues for Home & Gifting Luxeartisanship Buy Now Undo "Whenever we receive specific complaints, we take strict action with zero tolerance. In several instances, we initiated departmental enquiries and took disciplinary action against the officers concerned." The officer added that since May, during passport verification at home, police station, or office, an OTP-based Aadhaar verification system has been introduced through an internal app. "This has made the process more accurate and transparent. The passport verification now undergoes four-five layers of scrutiny — from the verifying officer to the local IC to the police commissioner — ensuring greater accountability," he said. The initiative gains significance in light of a racket that allegedly used forged identity documents to secure genuine Indian passports. The case came to light last Sept when the Kolkata Regional Passport Office flagged nearly 240 suspicious passports issued on the basis of faulty documents. A special probe team of Kolkata Police was formed to investigate the scam, and a charge sheet was submitted in March. Investigators found that police allegedly failed to detect forged documents during verification. On Tuesday, ED carried out raids at multiple locations across Kolkata and its surrounding districts as part of the wider investigation.
Indian Express
14-06-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
Jio, Airtel, Vi, BSNL users can now switch mobile plans every 30 days: What it means for you
The Department of Telecom, commonly referred to as DoT, has announced that it is making some changes to the mobile plan conversion process from prepaid to postpaid and vice versa. In a directive dated June 10, 2025, the authority said it is drastically reducing the cooldown period, allowing users to convert their mobile plan from prepaid to postpaid or postpaid to prepaid in just 30 days for the first time. The new directive changes a previous order issued on September 21, 2021, which had locked the transition period to 90 days. 📱 Switching between Prepaid ↔️ Postpaid got easier through OTP! ⏱️ Cooling-off period for first-time reconversion reduced from 90 days to 30 days. 🔁 Need to switch sooner? Use KYC at PoS or authorized outlets! — DoT India (@DoT_India) June 12, 2025 Previously, Airtel, BSNL, Reliance Jio, and Vodafone Idea users had to wait for 3 months or 90 days for the conversion of their mobile plans. However, for any following OTP-based conversions, the cool-off period will be 90 days. But in case a subscriber 'wishes to re-convert within the lock-in period of 30 days or 90 days (as the case may be), they may still do so by following the extant KYC process at PoS or authorised outlets of the licensees.' This means that customers will have to visit the network operator's outlet to change their SIM from prepaid to postpaid or vice versa. The Department of Telecom has also asked network operators that subscribers be clearly informed about the lock-in period every time they convert from prepaid to postpaid or postpaid to prepaid. However, all other security and regulatory requirements will remain unchanged. To give you a quick recap, switching from prepaid to a postpaid connection requires customers to initiate the conversion process from the network provider's website, app or by visiting a customer service centre. The process usually requires users to fill out a form and submit KYC documents.
The Hindu
12-06-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
A good fix: On the IRCTC and ticket booking
The e-ticketing system of the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation Ltd. (IRCTC) is one of India's most widely used e-commerce platforms. Crores of Indian rail commuters and passengers use it to book their tickets, which makes it imperative that the system is run robustly. The scale of the operation is revealing — on May 22, 2025, the IRCTC processed a staggering 31,814 tickets in 60 seconds to set a new record. Yet, the popular e-ticketing system, especially the Tatkal booking part, is plagued by issues. Extremely high demand during peak hours, particularly during the designated Tatkal booking window period, often leads to crashes and slow performance. A major concern is that the system is exploited by ticketing agents who use unfair automated tools (or bots), leading to rapidly dwindling ticket availability for passengers. These issues are what prompted the IRCTC to announce two major steps. The first was a major digital overhaul of the ticketing infrastructure using anti-bot systems to prevent unauthorised automated bookings — a measure that led to the de-activation of a whopping 2.5 crore suspect user IDs. Implementation of a content delivery network also helped improve website performance. In addition, Aadhaar verification is necessary immediately after a ticket is booked. The IRCTC has also mandated Aadhaar authentication for all Tatkal bookings, from July 1, along with OTP-based authentication. Authorised agents have been restricted from booking Tatkal tickets during the first 30 minutes of the booking window period. The idea behind an e-ticketing platform and the provision of Tatkal booking of tickets are to provide equitable chances for passengers to travel. Despite more train services having been introduced over the years by the Indian Railways, which is a state monopoly, demand far outstrips supply, and passengers have to rely on advanced booking and Tatkal tickets for their travel. When agents use bots to game the system, it kills the purpose of equity. Therefore, the IRCTC's steps will bring relief to passengers. That said, the Indian Railways must focus not only on easing the process of ticketing but also on elevating the passenger experience in terms of increasing its train and track capacity to fulfil travel demand, ensuring safety and enhancing its facilities. Seen in this context, while these ticketing fixes are important, the true test for the Indian Railways will be its ability to move beyond just technical and administrative solutions and undertake a fundamental expansion of its services to serve India's large passenger clientele. In a way, meaningful expansion to meet the demand will also obviate the need for reworking technological solutions yet again in the future.
NDTV
01-06-2025
- Business
- NDTV
All About EPFO 3.0: From ATM Withdrawals To Faster Claim Settlements
In a major digital push aimed at improving accessibility and efficiency for salaried employees, the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) is set to roll out EPFO 3.0 in June 2025, according to a report by DD News. The platform is expected to bring several key changes to how provident fund subscribers access and manage their savings, including ATM withdrawals, auto-claim settlements, and OTP-based account updates. What to Expect from EPFO 3.0: ATM Withdrawals: In a first-of-its-kind move, subscribers may soon be able to withdraw EPF funds via ATMs, similar to a standard bank transaction. This feature is expected to go live after the approval and settlement of claims, giving users more direct access to their funds. Faster, Automated Claim Settlements: The upcoming version will include auto-claim settlement, significantly cutting down processing times and manual intervention. This is expected to speed up the transfer of funds into users' bank accounts. Digital Account Corrections: EPF account holders will soon be able to digitally update personal details such as name, date of birth, and other key information, eliminating the need for physical form submissions. OTP-Based Verification: Account updates will be made simpler through OTP-based authentication, streamlining the verification process and replacing older, form-based systems. Improved Grievance Redressal: The EPFO is also working on upgrading its grievance redressal system, aiming to address user concerns more efficiently through the new platform. Social Security Integration and Healthcare Expansion: EPFO 3.0 is part of a broader plan to create a unified social security framework. Efforts are underway to integrate central government welfare schemes such as the Atal Pension Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Bima Yojana, and Shramik Jan Dhan Yojana into the EPFO ecosystem. In parallel, the Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) is also strengthening its healthcare offerings. Beneficiaries may soon be eligible for free treatment at hospitals under the Ayushman Bharat scheme, including both public and empanelled private facilities. Currently, ESIC provides healthcare coverage to nearly 18 crore individuals through its network of 165 hospitals. With EPFO 3.0, the government is aiming to modernise India's social security landscape by making it more accessible, integrated, and user-friendly for workers across sectors.
The Hindu
06-05-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Digital luggage locker facility at Thiruvananthapuram Central railway station
In a significant step towards enhancing passenger convenience, the Thiruvananthapuram Division of the Southern Railway has introduced a digital luggage locker facility at the Thiruvananthapuram Central railway station. The facility, named SafeCloak, is a self-operable, digital luggage storage solution that allows passengers to securely store their bags for a desired duration. The smart digital lockers are accessible only via OTP-based mobile number verification and are continuously monitored through CCTV, ensuring maximum security and accountability. The facility will be offered at affordable rates for passengers. The rate starts from ₹60 for 6 hours for a medium box and goes up to ₹300 for 24 hours for an XL box that can store up to 10 bags, which can be used by family and group travellers. The advanced digital locker system is designed to offer travellers a secure, hassle-free, and tech-enabled way to store their luggage while on the move. The Railway Division is redefining how modern railway stations serve the needs of both tourists and business travellers. Smart digital locker and AC waiting hall are ideal solutions for day tourists and business travellers who arrive and leave on the same day, allowing them to move light and focus on work without the burden of luggage, according to the railway authorities. The key features of the facility include easy-to-use digital interface at the locker kiosk, mobile verification via OTP for secure access, multiple locker sizes, fully digital payments with instant locker access, 24x7 CCTV monitoring, and 24x7 customer support via phone and so on.
