India’s MEA says passport no longer proof of citizenship

Indian diplomat Pavan K. Varma criticised a recent announcement by the Ministry of External Affairs stating that an Indian passport can no longer be treated as proof of citizenship. He noted that the Passport Act (Section 6 (2)(a)) has long required a passport to be issued only to Indian citizens, and that the document has traditionally served as a reliable affirmation of a person’s national belonging.

Varma warned that removing this presumption creates legal uncertainty for millions of Indians who travel abroad. He highlighted that other Indian identity documents – Aadhaar, election cards, ration cards and birth certificates – are also vulnerable to fraud or challenge, leaving citizens without a clear, universally accepted proof of citizenship. He argued that the change could expand discretionary powers of officials and increase bureaucratic burdens, contrasting India’s approach with countries such as the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia where passports remain strong evidence of citizenship.