The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Tuesday clarified that an Indian passport is issued primarily to regulate the departure of Indian citizens from the country and is granted only after completion of the prescribed verification process under existing laws.
The clarification comes amid an ongoing debate over whether a passport can be treated as proof of citizenship, particularly in the context of the special intensive revision of electoral rolls being carried out in several states.
Speaking at a regular media briefing, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the issuance of passports is governed by the provisions of the Passports Act, 1967 and the Passports Rules, 1980. He stated that under the law, an Indian passport is a government-issued document intended to regulate the international travel of Indian citizens and is issued only after due scrutiny and verification by the concerned authorities.
The issue gained attention following remarks made by senior MEA officials during Passport Seva Divas on June 24, when they described the passport as a travel document meant for international transit rather than a standalone proof of citizenship. The officials had made the comments while responding to queries regarding the use of passports as evidence of citizenship during the electoral roll revision exercise. Jaiswal also pointed out that less than eight per cent of India’s population currently holds a passport.
The earlier observations by ministry officials triggered widespread discussions on social media and drew criticism from opposition parties, including the Congress, which questioned the government’s position on the issue. Government representatives had earlier referred to a 2013 judgment of the Bombay High Court, which observed that possession of a passport by itself does not constitute conclusive proof of Indian citizenship.
Officials also highlighted provisions under the Passports Act that permit the Central Government, under specific circumstances and in the public interest, to issue passports to individuals who are not Indian citizens.