1 / 7Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman today announced that e-passports would be rolled out from next year for more convenience to the public during her Budget speech.2 / 7The e-passports will use embedded chips and futuristic technology, she said.3 / 7According to oficials, the e-passports will have more security features and will use Radio-Frequency Identification and biometrics. The passports will be in line with international rules.4 / 7The passport jacket will have an electronic chip with security-related data encoded on it.5 / 7Passports are issued in booklets currently.The e-passport is expected to facilitate smooth passage through immigration posts globally and provide more security as it hinges on biometric data.6 / 7While an e-passport looks just like a regular passport, it comes with a small electronic chip, similar to those seen in drivers' licences.7 / 7The microchip is expected to store all the information that is printed on the passport, including the name, date of birth, address, parents' names, and other details.The electronic chip will help immigration counters to quickly verify details of travellers, reduce congestion at airports and also reduce the circulation of fake passports.The electronic passports will be scanned with a chip reader, rather than an optical reader that is used for passports at the moment.