India raises passport fees and says passport is only a travel document, not proof of citizenship

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued the Passports (Amendment) Rules, 2026, effective 1 July 2026. Under the new schedule a standard 36‑page passport for adults costs ₹2,500 (up from ₹1,500) and the expedited Tatkaal service ₹5,000 (up from ₹3,500). Fees for 60‑page passports, lost‑or‑damaged replacements and minor applicants were also increased, with a 10 % discount for children under 8 years and seniors over 60 years on fresh applications. The changes mark the first major revision since 2012.

In a separate clarification on 24 June 2026, the MEA stated that an Indian passport is a travel document and not conclusive proof of citizenship, citing the Passports Act, 1967 and a 2013 Bombay High Court ruling. The comment sparked a political backlash: opposition leaders and MPs questioned the implication for voting rights, while Congress and senior figures such as Shashi Tharoor called the stance an “absurd legal paradox” and urged legislative amendment. The debate has heightened public confusion about which documents—passport, Aadhaar, voter ID—constitute proof of Indian citizenship.