Government reverses decision to introduce orange passport for ECR category

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Government drops plan to introduce orange passport for ECR category
Government drops plan to introduce orange passport for ECR category

New Delhi : The Ministry of External Affairs on Friday withdrew its decision to introduce an orange passport for people belonging to ECR category. 

ECR category stands for people who have not passed their 10th standard from a school and want to travel abroad for work.

The decision came a day after Kerala High Court issued notices to the central government and the Passport Authority of India over the proposal to have two different colour passports.

In a statement released by foreign ministry, it has been cleared that last page of the passport will continue as per current rules and the authority will not issue a separate passport to ECR (Emigration Clearance Required) passport holders.

The MEA had revealed its plan to issue a different colour passport for ECR category in Januay end, but no details were shared on the same.

ECR or "Emigration Check Required" category is particularly for applicants who and are travelling abroad for work to a group of 18 countries, most of them in Gulf. They have to get an 'Emigration clearance' certificate from the office of Protector of Emigrants before leaving India.