Addressing questions regarding the role of passports in citizenship verification, a MEA official clarified that a passport’s purpose is to facilitate international travel rather than serve as proof of citizenship.
“A passport is a travel document, not a document of citizenship, and theoretically speaking, that distinguishes a passport from other documents. Even though while travelling abroad, a passport attests to your nationality, yet it is not a document of your citizenship,” a senior official told The Hindu.
The clarification came in response to a query on whether an Indian passport could be used to challenge exclusion from electoral rolls during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise being conducted across several states.
Another senior ministry official emphasised that the passport issuance process involves extensive verification procedures before an applicant is granted the document.
It is issued “after a lot of due diligence, and we make sure that the person who gets it is actually entitled, and we also base ourselves on documents from several government agencies like the Aadhar, PAN Card,” the official was quoted as saying by The Hindu.
The move follows recent observations by the Supreme Court during hearings on the SIR of electoral rolls, where the court noted that Aadhaar functions as a proof of identity and not as conclusive proof of citizenship.
The MEA highlighted the government’s continued efforts to modernize passport services and improve accessibility across the country. Officials said that nearly 10% of Indian passport holders currently possess the new chip-enabled e-passport.
These passports comply with international standards established by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), enhancing security, reducing fraud, and improving acceptance at immigration checkpoints worldwide.
The ministry also highlighted the significant expansion of passport services across the country. India now has a network of 545 Passport Seva Kendras, ensuring wider access to passport-related services for applicants. Officials noted that the network has expanded to cover almost every Lok Sabha constituency, making passport facilities more accessible to citizens.
Meanwhile, passport-related services have become significantly more efficient in recent years. As per the officials, passport processing can now be completed in as little as five to six working days in many cases, excluding police verification requirements, while applicants typically spend less than 45 minutes at service centres.
Travel opportunities for Indian passport holders have improved considerably in recent years. On the occasion of the 14th Passport Seva Divas on June 24, official stated that 27 countries currently permit visa-free entry for Indian citizens. Additionally, 47 nations provide visa-on-arrival facilities, while 66 countries offer e-visa options for Indian travellers.
