Why a Passport May Not Prove You're Indian

Why a passport may not prove you're Indian

A passport controversy has reignited debate over how citizenship is proven in India, with voter-list revisions exposing systemic gaps and raising fears of wrongful exclusion.

Indian passport myths vs facts: What every UAE traveller needs to know

The passport has become the biggest talking point after the MEA reiterated that an Indian passport should not be treated as definitive proof of citizenship

Passport is travel document, was never citizenship proof: MEA

India's passport services have seen a massive expansion, with 1.5 crore services delivered last year and processing times now averaging six working days. The number of passport centres has surged to 545, and Indians now enjoy visa-free entry to 27 countries. The government also highlighted the introduction of secure, chip-enabled e-passports, enhancing both convenience and security for citizens.

Being Indian: The Passport and the Presumption of Citizenship

The Republic does not hand out passports to all and sundry. It issues one only after it has satisfied itself that the applicant belongs to it, writes Sanjay Hegde.

The Passport Paradox: What Determines Indian Citizenship?

Why is this an issue now? The first step toward exploring the world; Picture Source Indian Express The issue came to light when queries were directed at the MEA on 24 June 2026. Asking if a Passport could be used to challenge an exclusion from the Special Inclusion Revision (SIR). To this the MEA merely responded by saying that the Passport is only a travel document and not a citizenship document. The MEA response came to a specific query posed,…

The Silence Around Indian Citizenship Has Spawned the Fear of NRC

India Tomorrow NEW DELHI: Almost one and a half billion Indians continue to count the documents that are NOT ‘conclusive proof,’ of Indian citizenship, with the latest addition of the Passport. There is a pregnant silence from the government and the Supreme Court on exactly what constitutes proof of Indian citizenship. This pregnant silence, many […]