World’s First Ever Biometric Seafarer Identity Document

Explanation :

• In a move to boost employment in the coastal shipping sector, India has become the first country in the world to issue a Biometric Seafarer Identity Document (BSID) to its seafarers.
• The BSID has the dimensions of a smart ID card. It introduces modern security features like an embedded biometric chip, as well as optical security features such as micro prints/micro texts and Unique Guilloche pattern.
• It is a marked improvement over the two fingers or iris based bio-metric data, with modern security features.

Significance

• The new document will give a foolproof identification to Indian seafarers which will facilitate their movement and help in identifying them from any location in the world.

Source: Civil Services Chronicle Online