Cost of getting an Indian Passport - Corruption Involved

The true cost of getting an Indian Passport for the ordinary citizen of India:
(Regular Process and not the Tatkal Process)
Official Application Fee: Rs. 1000/-

• Bribe at the Passport Office for Submitting Application: Rs. 2000/-

Consequences of not paying this bribe would mean your application will rot in the endless file backlog and eventually get lost.

• Bribe to the Police constable who visits your house for verification: Rs. 500 -1000/-

Consequences of not paying this bribe would mean at worst an unfavorable report during police verification and denial of your passport and at best an undelivered police verification which would mean a undetermined delay in passport processing

• Bribe to the Postman for the privilege of him delivering you the passport: Rs 100 - 500/-

Consequences of not paying this bribe would mean that the postman is not sure the addressee stays at the address mentioned and could return the passport back to the passport office.

True cost: Rs. 3600/- to Rs. 4500/-

How many people pay these bribes? 99% of the people who apply for passports will pay these bribes since a passport is a vital travel document and no one will question the system.


Mera Bharat Mahan!!!