By NE NOW NEWS
Guwahati: 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 various identity documents for citizenship verification and access to government benefits.
The clarification came during a comprehensive briefing on India‘s expanding passport and international mobility ecosystem, where officials highlighted a series of reforms aimed at improving passport accessibility, enhancing security features and facilitating global mobility for Indian citizens.
Officials noted that although passports are issued only to Indian citizens, their primary function is to facilitate international travel and establish identity abroad. The clarification comes amid ongoing discussions regarding the role of documents such as Aadhaar cards, voter identity cards and passports in determining citizenship status.
The MEA also highlighted significant improvements in passport services across the country. Processing times have been reduced considerably, with many applications now being completed within five working days. Applicants are also spending less than 45 minutes at Passport Seva Kendras (PSKs), reflecting the impact of technology-driven reforms and streamlined procedures.
A major development outlined during the briefing was the nationwide rollout of chip-enabled e-passports. Since May last year, all newly issued passports have been equipped with secure electronic chips containing biometric data and advanced security features compliant with standards prescribed by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). The initiative is expected to strengthen document security, curb fraud and improve international acceptance at border checkpoints.
India’s passport infrastructure has expanded significantly over the past decade. The country now has 545 passport service centres, representing a six-fold increase in capacity. The government plans to establish 20 additional Passport Seva Kendras this year, with the goal of ensuring at least one passport facility in every Lok Sabha constituency by 2027.
According to officials, passport services now cover nearly all parliamentary constituencies, while special mobile passport units and outreach camps continue to serve remote and underserved regions. Last year alone, these outreach efforts helped nearly three lakh people obtain passports.
Despite the expansion, passport ownership 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 key priority as overseas education, employment and business opportunities continue to grow.
The MEA also highlighted India’s strengthening global mobility partnerships. The country has signed 27 mobility agreements with 25 nations, including the United Kingdom, Australia, the European Union and several Gulf countries, facilitating smoother movement of students, researchers, professionals and skilled workers.
Indian passport holders now enjoy visa-free access to 27 countries, while 47 countries offer visas on arrival and 66 nations provide e-visa facilities.
On overseas employment, officials said the upgraded eMigrate 2.0 platform has streamlined emigration clearance procedures. Since its launch in October 2022, nearly seven lakh Indian workers have received emigration clearance through the portal.
The government has also expanded support for overseas workers through pre-departure orientation programmes, which provide country-specific guidance, cultural awareness and job-related training. In addition, one-stop support centres offering legal and psychological assistance to distressed Indian women have been established in several Gulf countries and Singapore under the Indian Community Welfare Fund.
As part of its efforts to promote ethical and orderly migration, India will host a Human Resource Mobility Forum next week involving Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and Denmark to connect skilled Indian workers with international employers.
Officials said the government’s long-term objective is to make passports more accessible to citizens while ensuring that overseas migration remains safe, transparent and beneficial for both workers and destination countries.