In order to streamline, liberalise and ease the process of issue of passport, Ministry of External Affairs has taken a number of steps in the realm of passport policy which is expected to benefit the citizens of India applying for a passport.
The rules, which were announced by Minister of State for External Affairs V K Singh, also provides a provision for government servants, who are not able to get "no objection certificate" from their respective ministries/departments.

Here are the new rules:

Minister of External Affairs of IndiaSushma Swaraj tweeted about the same:
We have made significant changes in the Passport rules. I would like to have your feedback pl. #PassportRules
— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) December 23, 2016
Here is the press release by Ministry of External Affairs.