Global Entry Program

In Context  

  • Indian security agencies in the past two years checked the antecedents of more than 9,000 Indians who wanted to enrol for the paid Global Entry Program.
    • The Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems (CCTNS) is being used for antecedent verification.

About Global Entry Programme 

  •  It is a facility run by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), an agency that works under the Department of Homeland Security(United States of America ) that fast tracks the movement of pre-approved, low-risk travellers upon arrival after a rigorous background check through designated kiosks. 
  • The pilot project started in 2008 and  India became a member of Global Entry in 2017.
  • The other countries that are part of this programme are Argentina, Australia, Canada, Colombia, Germany, Mexico, New Zealand, Panama, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, Switzerland, Taiwan and the United Kingdom.
  • Process: 
    • Applicants are charged $100 and a personal interview is conducted before they are enrolled.
      • Their biometrics are also collected.
    • After receiving a request, the U.S. authorities send them to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). 
      • The MEA forwards it to the Ministry of Home Affairs, which taps other ministries, State police and other databases to run a background check.
    • The CBP does not process the application if a person has been “convicted of any criminal offence or have pending criminal charges, including outstanding warrants; have been found in violation of any customs, immigration or agriculture regulations or laws in any country.”

Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems (CCTNS)

  • It is a centrally funded scheme, developed by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB).
  • It was conceptualized by the Ministry of Home Affairs in detailed consultation with all stakeholders and has been implemented as a “Mission Mode Project (MMP)” since 2009.
  • It is a centrally funded scheme.
  • It is a secure application that links over 97% of police stations in the country and is being used for antecedent verification for Global Entry.

Objectives

  • Provide Citizen-Centric Police Services via a web portal
  • Pan India search on National database of Crime & Criminal records
  • Crime and Criminal reports at State and Center
  • Computerization of Police Processes

Source: TH

 
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