An Indian passport is a document that, as per the Passports Act, 1967, is issued by the Government of India to regulate the departure from India of citizens of India – Randhir Jaiswal, MEA Spokesperson

Picture : ANI/X

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has clarified that an Indian passport is a document issued by the government primarily to “regulate the departure” of Indian citizens from the country.

This statement comes amid a raging debate over whether the passport can be used to verify citizenship.

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that a passport is issued after due “verification” laid out by an established process.

He also noted that less than eight per cent of Indians currently hold the document. Senior officials of the MEA, during a briefing on Passport Seva Divas on June 24, had previously described the passport as solely a travel document, not a document to prove citizenship.

These remarks were made in response to questions regarding the passport’s use as proof of citizenship for the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls being conducted by the Election Commission in several states.

Jaiswal further clarified, “An Indian passport is a document that, as per the Passports Act, 1967, is issued by the Government of India to regulate the departure from India of citizens of India.”

He added that the issue of passports to Indian citizens is governed by The Passports Act, 1967, and Passports Rules, 1980. He concluded by reiterating that “Currently, less than eight per cent of Indian citizens hold a passport.”