MHA plans to reduce visa form fields by 70% to boost tourism
GS2Polity · Governance · IR· e-Governance & citizen services· Prelims·
Ease of Doing Business/Governance: Administrative simplification as a tool for tourism promotion.
Why in news
The Union Ministry of Home Affairs announced plans to reduce visa application form fields by 70% across 22 categories to simplify the process and boost tourism.
Background
The Ministry of Home Affairs plans to remove redundant fields like 'district' and allow tourists to provide hotel/guest house addresses. Foreign tourist arrivals in 2025 reached 91.5 lakh, significantly lower than the 1.093 crore recorded in 2019.
Facts for Prelims
- FactThe Ministry of Home Affairs plans to reduce visa form fields by approximately 70%.
- FactIndia currently has 22 visa categories.
- FactForeign tourist arrivals in 2019 were 1.093 crore.
- FactForeign tourist arrivals in 2025 were 91.5 lakh.
- FactCurrent e-visa applications can run up to nine pages.
Prelims practice question
How many visa categories are currently planned for the reduction of form fields by the Ministry of Home Affairs?
- (a)30
- (b)22
- (c)50
- (d)15
Show answer
Answer: (b) 22 — The Ministry of Home Affairs plans to reduce visa form fields by 70% across 22 categories.
For Mains
Q. Discuss how simplifying visa procedures and streamlining administrative hurdles can contribute to India's goal of becoming a global tourism hub.
Dimensions to cover in your answer
- Ease of Doing Business: Reducing bureaucratic friction in visa processing to enhance international mobility.
- Tourism Growth: Addressing the gap between pre-pandemic (2019) and current (2025) tourist arrival figures.
- Standardization: Aligning domestic visa requirements with global standards to improve user experience.
Keywords: Ease of Travel · Tourism Promotion · Administrative Simplification · Visa Liberalization · Digital Governance
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