Your passport doesn't prove you are an Indian citizen. So what does? Explained
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has clarified that an Indian passport is just a travel document and should not be treated as conclusive proof
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has clarified that an Indian passport is just a travel document and should not be treated as conclusive proof of citizenship. The clarification came on 24 June during briefing on India's expanding passport and mobility ecosystem as India marked the 14th Passport Seva Divas. The ministry highlighted measures incorporated into new chip-based e-passports, such as biometric data, to boost global acceptance and reduce the risk of fraud. At the briefing, officials reportedly stressed that while passports are issued to Indian citizens, the document's primary purpose is to enable international travel and establish identity abroad and not to be treated as proof of citizenship. The clarification comes when questions have already been raised about other documents, such as Aadhaar and Voter ID cards, as proof of citizenship. It also comes amid recent controversies over electoral roll revisions and citizenship verification exercises. Under these circumstances, the question arises is if even a passport does not conclusively prove citizenship, what document does for Indians? Who gets an Indian passport? Quick answers to key questions • 5 QUESTIONS 1 What does the Ministry of External Affairs say about the Indian passport's role in proving citizenship? ⌵ The Ministry of External Affairs has clarified that an Indian passport is primarily a travel document and should not be considered conclusive proof of Indian citizenship. 2 Which document is considered the most definitive proof of Indian citizenship? ⌵ The most definitive documents to prove Indian citizenship are the Certificate of Naturalisation or Certificate of Registration, issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs under the Citizenship Act, 1955. 3 Can Aadhaar, Voter ID, or PAN cards be used as proof of citizenship in India? ⌵ No, Aadhaar is a proof of identity and residence, while Voter ID and PAN cards are not considered conclusive proof of citizenship according to recent clarifications from the government.
4 What challenges arise when establishing Indian citizenship without a specific proof document? ⌵ The absence of a universally recognized document for citizenship raises challenges in verifying citizenship, especially during disputes or legal proceedings related to citizenship claims. 5 How does a birth certificate serve as proof of citizenship in India? ⌵ A birth certificate can serve as proof of citizenship depending on the year of birth: for those born before 1987 it is absolute proof, while for later dates, it requires additional proof of at least one parent's citizenship. The Passports Act, 1967, the law governing passports, basically says that passports are issued to Indian citizens. Under Section 5 of the Act, a passport authority may issue a passport only after considering the application and making such inquiry as it deems necessary. Section 6(2)(a) requires the authority to refuse a passport if the applicant is not a citizen of India. So as per the Passports Act, a passport is issued by the authority to an applicant who is an Indian citizen. Yet, the government has not identified passport or any other specific document that can serve as proof of citizenship. What about Aadhaar, PAN and Voter ID cards? Regarding Aadhaar cards, the Unique Identification Authority of India clarifies that Aadhaar is strictly a proof of identity and residence, not citizenship. Election Commission’s Voter ID card carries proof of citizenship because the Representation of the People Act that governs in requires only citizens to be registered as voters. In fact, the recent Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise by the Election Commission suggested that the Voter ID is proof of citizenship. But since the Supreme Court clarified that exclusion from voter lists doesn’t mean the end of citizenship, a Voter ID card is certainly not proof of citizenship.
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