Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi
New Delhi, Jun 25: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has clarified that an Indian passport is primarily a travel document and should not be considered conclusive proof of citizenship, amid growing public confusion over the use of passports for establishing citizenship and eligibility for government benefits.
The clarification was made during a briefing on India's expanding passport and mobility ecosystem, where officials highlighted a series of reforms aimed at improving passport accessibility, security and global acceptance.
Officials noted that while passports are issued only to Indian citizens, their primary purpose is to facilitate international travel and establish identity abroad. The clarification comes amid recurring debates over documents such as passports, Aadhaar cards and voter identity cards being used as proof of citizenship.
The government also highlighted significant improvements in passport services, with processing times reduced to as little as five working days in many cases. Applicants now spend less than 45 minutes at Passport Seva Kendras (PSKs), thanks to technology-driven reforms and streamlined procedures.
A key development outlined during the briefing was the nationwide rollout of chip-enabled e-passports. Since May last year, all newly issued passports have been embedded with secure electronic chips containing biometric data and advanced security features in line with International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards. The initiative is expected to enhance document security, curb fraud and facilitate smoother international travel.
India's passport service network has expanded significantly over the past decade and now includes 545 passport service centres across the country. The government plans to establish 20 more Passport Seva Kendras this year, with the goal of ensuring at least one passport facility in every Lok Sabha constituency by 2027.
Officials said the network now covers almost every parliamentary constituency, with only around 30 districts yet to receive a dedicated passport centre. Mobile passport units and special outreach camps have also helped extend services to remote and underserved regions, with nearly three lakh passports issued through such initiatives last year.
Despite the expansion, passport penetration remains relatively low, with only about 10 per cent of India's population currently holding a passport. The government said increasing access to travel documents remains a priority as international mobility becomes increasingly important for education, employment and business opportunities.
The MEA also highlighted India's growing global mobility partnerships, noting that the country has signed 27 mobility agreements with 25 nations, including the United Kingdom, Australia, the European Union and several Gulf countries. These agreements are aimed at facilitating smoother movement for students, researchers, professionals and skilled workers.
Indian passport holders currently enjoy visa-free access to 27 countries, while 47 countries offer visas on arrival and 66 provide e-visa facilities.
On overseas employment, officials said the eMigrate 2.0 platform has streamlined emigration clearance processes. Since its launch in October 2022, nearly seven lakh Indian workers have secured emigration clearance through the portal.
The government is also strengthening support systems for overseas Indians. One-stop support centres providing legal aid and psychological counselling for distressed Indian women are now operational in several Gulf countries and Singapore under the Indian Community Welfare Fund.
Officials said the broader objective is to make passports more accessible to millions of Indians while ensuring safe, orderly and beneficial international migration.