New Delhi: A fresh debate has emerged after a senior official of India’s Ministry of External Affairs stated during the 14th Passport Seva Day event that an Indian passport is primarily a travel document and not the ultimate legal proof of citizenship.
The official explained that passports are issued after multiple levels of verification and documentation checks, but their primary legal purpose is to facilitate international travel and establish the holder’s identity abroad. He added that passports should not be viewed as citizenship certificates.
The statement has reignited discussions regarding documents used to establish citizenship in India. Legal experts note that there is no single universal citizenship certificate for all citizens. Documents such as the Aadhaar Card, PAN Card, and voter ID cards serve specific purposes but are not necessarily considered conclusive proof of citizenship by themselves.
Reacting to the remarks, Aaditya Thackeray questioned the rationale behind extensive police verification if passports are not regarded as proof of citizenship. He also raised concerns about whether such statements could affect the credibility of Indian passports internationally.
Renowned lyricist and screenwriter Javed Akhtar criticized the clarification, calling it “absurd” and asking on what basis passports are issued if they are not considered proof of citizenship.
The debate is linked to provisions of the Passport Act 1967, particularly Section 20, which allows the central government under special circumstances and in the public interest to issue passports or travel documents even to non-citizens. Ministry guidelines also describe passports as identity and travel documents.
The discussion comes shortly after External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar described passports as an important form of national identity and highlighted modernization efforts such as digital passport services and chip-based e-passports.
