Passport not citizenship proof: What documents establish Indian citizenship? 10 FAQs answered
MEA says passport not a travel document Some FAQs on citizenship Q. How can Indian citizenship be acquired? Citizenship by Birth Citizenship by Descent Citizenship
MEA says passport not a travel document Some FAQs on citizenship Q. How can Indian citizenship be acquired? Citizenship by Birth Citizenship by Descent Citizenship by Registration Citizenship by Naturalisation Citizenship by Incorporation of Territory Q. Is there a single document that proves Indian citizenship? Q. What is direct proof of Indian citizenship? Q. Is a citizenship certificate issued to every Indian citizen? Q. Which documents can help establish citizenship? Birth certificates Citizenship certificates of parents Records showing a parent's Indian citizenship Indian passports of parents Other records relating to birth, parentage and nationality Q. Can an Indian passport be used in citizenship-related applications? Q. Are Aadhaar, voter ID and driving licence proof of citizenship? Q. Why don't identity documents automatically prove citizenship? Q. Why did the MEA say a passport is not proof of citizenship? NEW DELHI: A clarification by the ministry of external affairs (MEA) that a passport is "primarily a travel document" and not proof of citizenship has renewed attention on a longstanding legal question - what documents establish Indian citizenship?Speaking at an event marking the 14th Passport Seva Divas, senior MEA official said a passport attests the nationality of Indians when they are abroad but should not be treated as a citizenship document.
The remarks come amid wider debates around citizenship documentation and electoral roll verification.The government issued clarification on the same on Thursday referencing Section 20 of the Passports Act, 1967, which provides for the issuance of passports to non-citizens."Notwithstanding anything contained in the foregoing provisions relating to issue of a passport or travel document, the Central Government may issue, or cause to be issued, a passport or travel document to a person who is not a citizen of India if that Government is of the opinion that it is necessary so to do in the public interest," Section 20 of the Act states.Last September, the Supreme Court declined requests from political parties seeking a direction to the Election Commission (EC) to treat Aadhaar as a standalone document for establishing citizenship during the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar. The court observed that Aadhaar's legal status could not be expanded beyond what is provided under existing law and refused to mandate its acceptance as sole proof of citizenship for voter enrolment.According to a PIB Q&A on the Register of Citizens (NRC), Indian citizenship can be acquired in five ways under the Citizenship Act, 1955:No. India does not issue a single, universally held document that serves as definitive proof of citizenship for all citizens.
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