‘Passport issued to regulate exit of Indian citizens’: MEA clarifies amid citizenship debate | Today’s news
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has sought to clarify the legal purpose of the Indian passport, saying it is issued to “regulate the departure” of Indian citizens from the country under the Passport Act, 1967. The clarification comes at a time when political debate is intensifying over whether a passport can be considered a definitive proof of citizenship, particularly in the context of the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR).
MEA reiterates the legal purpose of the Indian passport
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal told reporters on Tuesday that the legal basis of the passport remains unchanged and that it is issued only after an established verification process.
“An Indian passport is a document issued by the Government of India under the Passport Act, 1967 to regulate the departure of Indian citizens from India,” Jaiswal said.
He was responding to questions after recent remarks by senior ministry officials sparked a wider political controversy.
“It is issued after proper verification established by the established process.
Issuance of passports to Indian citizens or any other person is governed by the Passport Act, 1967 and the Passport Rules, 1980,” he said.
Jaiswal also highlighted the limited reach of passport ownership in the country.
“Currently, less than eight percent of Indian citizens hold a passport,” he added.
A passport is not proof of citizenship, says the MEA
The latest clarification follows comments made by senior MEA officials during a media briefing on Passport Seva Divas on June 24. At that briefing, officials described the passport as a travel document rather than proof of citizenship.
The issue came to light after questions were raised whether an Indian passport can be accepted as proof of citizenship during the ongoing special intensive revision of electoral rolls in several states by the Election Commission.
According to the ministry’s position, a passport is issued to facilitate international travel and should not be interpreted as a separate document establishing citizenship.
The opposition questions the government’s position
The ministry’s earlier remarks drew criticism from opposition parties, including the Congress, which questioned how a passport issued by the Indian government could be considered anything other than proof of the holder’s citizenship.
Congress accused the government of creating conditions that could allow certain individuals to be arbitrarily denied civil rights. The party argued that the department’s interpretation raises broader concerns about the treatment of official identity documents in citizenship-related processes.
The debate connected with the revision of the electoral roll
The controversy unfolded against the backdrop of a particularly intense review by the Electoral Commission, which renewed its review of documents received to verify the election.
While the MEA reaffirmed that passports are only issued after proper verification under the legal framework laid down by the Passports Act, 1967 and the Passport Rules, 1980, it insists that the statutory purpose of the document is to regulate overseas travel rather than serve as proof of citizenship.
