MEA Parliament replies (3-4 Apr 2025): Rana, e-passports, Africa, Germany

What happened

• During the PM’s Washington visit on 13 February 2025, the US conveyed it had approved Tahawwur Rana’s extradition; his stay application was before the US Supreme Court [MEA, Lok Sabha reply].
• The e-Passport carries an RFID chip and antenna as an inlay, which makes forgery harder; it began as a pilot with Passport Seva Programme 2.0 on 1 April 2024 [MEA, Rajya Sabha reply].
• MEA said Vision SAGAR has been expanded to Vision MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement of Security and Growth Across Regions) for the Global South [MEA, Lok Sabha reply].
• The German Cabinet adopted a “Focus on India” strategy document on 16 October 2024 [MEA, Lok Sabha reply].

Background

• These were the last MEA replies of the Budget Session, which was adjourned sine die on 4 April 2025 [PIB].

Why it matters

• MAHASAGAR is the new label to use in any answer on India’s maritime outreach; SAGAR is now the older term.