Government Clarifies Passport Not Conclusive Proof of Citizenship; Cites Passports Act, 1967 and Bombay HC Ruling

Exam-focused facts from the 26 June 2026 current affairs briefing.

Key facts

The central government clarified that an Indian passport has never been treated as conclusive proof of citizenship.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated that a passport is primarily a travel document.
The government cited Section 20 of the Passports Act, 1967, which allows the Centre to issue passports to non-citizens in public interest.
The Bombay High Court in 2013 ruled that possession of a passport alone does not establish Indian citizenship.
The clarification came on the 14th Passport Seva Divas, marking the enactment of the Passports Act on June 24, 1967.