MEA Clarifies Indian Passport Is Travel Document, Not Proof of Citizenship
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) clarified that an Indian passport is primarily a travel and identity document, not conclusive proof of citizenship. While passports are issued only to Indian citizens after verification, the Passports Act allows issuance to non-citizens in specific cases. This statement, made on Passport Seva Divas, sparked public debate and criticism, with questions raised about what constitutes definitive proof of Indian citizenship, as documents like Aadhaar and voter ID are also not considered conclusive evidence.