 clarified that an Indian passport is primarily a travel document){kind=link}
The MEA’s clarification that passports are travel documents and not proof of citizenship has drawn sharp reactions
June 25, 2026: A political controversy erupted after the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) clarified that an Indian passport is primarily a travel document and not proof of citizenship. The statement was issued during Passport Seva Divas celebrations as the government showcased its new biometric chip-enabled e-passports. While officials emphasized that passports certify nationality for international travel, they maintained that the document is not meant to establish citizenship rights within India.
The clarification prompted strong criticism from opposition leaders. Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal questioned what document citizens should use as definitive proof of citizenship if passports do not serve that purpose. He also raised concerns about possible implications for voter verification processes. Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray also criticized the government’s position, arguing that the statement could create confusion among citizens and raise questions about the passport issuance system.
Despite the backlash, the MEA defended its stance, stating that passports are designed to facilitate international travel and verify nationality before foreign authorities. Officials reiterated that only Indian citizens are eligible to receive Indian passports and that citizenship status within the country is established through other legal and official records. The clarification came alongside the government’s push to modernize passport services through secure biometric e-passports aimed at improving security and reducing document fraud.