New Delhi, June 25 -- The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has reiterated that an Indian passport is merely a travel document and should not be regarded as conclusive proof of citizenship.

The clarification came on 24 June during a briefing on India's expanding passport and mobility ecosystem as India marked the 14th Passport Seva Divas.

The government's position rested on distinct statutory frameworks: citizenship is governed by the Citizenship Act, 1955, whereas passports are issued under the Passports Act, 1967.

Crucially, Section 20 of the Passports Act granted the Centre the authority to issue travel documents to non-citizens in specific public-interest scenarios. Multiple judicial precedents have consistently held that possessi...