Govt. of India is charging an amount of Rs. 40/- towards SMS alert charges from the applicants seeking issue of passports to know the status of their application. Even though the registration for SMS alert is optional however, it is seen that almost the applicant is driven to subscribe for SMS alert.
It is also observed that on an average of 4 to 5 messages are generated which gives the status of the application. In view of above, it seems that there is an inappropriate pricing system for such value added services which need to be corrected. The members views are solicited on the subject. more
It is also observed that on an average of 4 to 5 messages are generated which gives the status of the application. In view of above, it seems that there is an inappropriate pricing system for such value added services which need to be corrected. The members views are solicited on the subject. more
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The question is that PSK charging on an average Rs. 10/ - per SMS. It seems it is the main business Model. more
Aug 04
It is basically wrong to charge SMS alert fees, because the government has already prescribed a Passport application fees that would be inclusive of responses of costs of the department. Why additional charge for SMS alert. How can the SMS service provider(TCS) make a charge for alerts on behalf of Passport Department. This has got to be clarified, whether the SMS is sent by TCS on the asking of the sender i.e. the department that is under obligation to keep the applicant informed of the progress even on SMS without any additional charge. As a corollary, does the department charge the cost of postage to the applicant separately? more
Jul 29
@ Shri Vinod Sahni Ji, Thanks for your keen interest in the post. If we talk practically, the subscription is not optional despite on paper being option. You are driven to such an extent that you feel compelled to subscribe for service. Secondly there is always an element of reasonableness w.r.t cost in any business. As stated on an average just 4-5 messages gets transmitted and for that Rs. 40/- is definitely an unfair amount. It make Rs. 10/- per SMS that too without any additional cost of manpower to send any message being an IT enabled service. I also refer to another comment wherein the member said I am talking about Rs. 40/- and not Rs. 1500 fee for issue of passport. Rs. 1500/- is for the passport fee for Govt. whereas the collection on account of SMS is for the TCS more
Mar 17
Why all the time middle class has to bear yhe additional burden of infrastructure improvement, eiyhout having much backup.Are middle class not looser wiyh continuous decrease of interest rate of po/bank fd ,this reduction is done to improve infrastructure to improve inflation but at the cost of middle class living. Whole drama of development at last target middle class, it seems cutting benifitd of middle class ,guarantee the infrastructure improvement but rich/super rich earning day and day night but no demand from that group to suffer and improve the economy. I hope government need yo change the mind set and definitions of improvements. more
Mar 14
We are talking about charges of Rs 40/- for sms but we are not talking about the passport renewal fee for Rs 1500/. This is not exorbitant. You have pay when you want good service. We are unnecessarily just dragging this topic for so long. It is not going to be reduces. If India has to progress only middle class people will have to bear the cost none else. In the days to come you please get ready for further increases in many things for infrastructural development. It is you who are going to contribute for all the development. Money has to be contributed by the people of India and not by people of other country. We should see that the money is not misused and work is completed in time and delayed. God bless India to become super power by 2020 as per the dream of APJ. more
Mar 14
