Following the external affairs ministry’s statement on Wednesday that a passport serves only as a travel document and not proof of citizenship, social media users expressed confusion and asked whether non-citizens might obtain Indian passports.
An MEA official noted that passports are granted after thorough verification using records from multiple government sources.
The passport joins other identity documents such as Aadhaar and voter ID cards that the government says do not conclusively establish citizenship.
Reactions on social media included comments from writer Javed Akhtar, who questioned whether passports are issued without full confirmation of citizenship status. Shiv Sena UBT leader Aaditya Thackeray described the clarification as further evidence of confusion within the ministry.
Users labeled the statement absurd and sought clarity on what document actually confirms Indian citizenship. Some asked if non-citizens could receive passports and whether consular support would still apply in emergencies.
Others referenced the Citizenship Act of 1955 and Passports Act of 1967, warning that issuing passports to ineligible persons would be a serious offense. One user listed documents submitted for a passport application, including educational certificates and a birth certificate, while wondering how to verify citizenship by birth.
A sarcastic remark suggested that only a political party card might now suffice as proof.
