India's MEA says passport is not proof of citizenship, sparking debate

On Passport Service Day, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) clarified that an Indian passport is a travel document, not the ultimate legal proof of citizenship. The ministry cited the Passport Act, 1967, which permits the issuance of passports to non‑citizens in special cases, and argued that citizenship is governed by the Constitution and the Citizenship Act, 1955. Consequently, documents such as Aadhaar, voter ID, PAN or the passport itself do not singly establish citizenship. The government pointed to the Bombay High Court’s 2013 ruling that a passport cannot be the decisive evidence of nationality. Legal experts and political parties responded with criticism, noting the lack of a single, universally accepted citizenship certificate and emphasizing birth certificates, citizenship certificates and other statutory records as the closest proofs. The debate has triggered widespread public discussion and political challenges, with opposition leaders questioning the impact on voter verification and the potential for misuse in identity verification.