Passport not proof of citizenship? Javed Akhtar questions ministry's 'absurd' move
Writer-lyricist Javed Akhtar on Wednesday criticised the Ministry of External Affairs' statement that a passport is not proof of citizenship. The remark sparked a wider debate on what counts as conclusive citizenship evidence.
Writer and lyricist Javed Akhtar on Wednesday slammed the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA)' remark that a passport is not proof of citizenship, calling the statement absurd. His reaction came after MEA officials said that a passport is a travel document, not a document of citizenship.
In a post on X, the 81-year-old questioned how passports could be issued if the authorities were not fully satisfied that the holder was an Indian citizen.
“The Ministry of External Affairs says that a passport is a document for travel, not proof of citizenship. Really??? So are they providing this travel document to some people without being totally convinced that this person is an Indian citizen ?? It is absurd (sic),” he wrote.
He doubled down on the criticism when someone pointed out that even Aadhar, Voter ID and Pan aren't proof of citizenship. Responding to the X user, Akhtar commented, "Who in the system is giving such unconditional help to these illegal immigrants. Under such undesirable circumstances, how do they differentiate between the fake and the genuine citizens except on the whim of some petty official (sic)."
What did the MEA say?
The MEA, on the 14th Passport Seva Divas, said passports are primarily travel documents issued by the government to facilitate international travel, and that possessing a passport does not by itself establish citizenship.
The statement sparked a broader debate on X about what constitutes conclusive proof of citizenship. The issue drew attention because passports are issued only to Indian citizens, even as the MEA said the document itself does not define citizenship.
Earlier this year, during hearings on the Special Intensive Revision of voter rolls, the Supreme Court said Aadhaar was not conclusive proof of citizenship and was only a document of identity. A voter ID card is also not treated as a citizenship document and is mainly an identity and residence document used to exercise the right to vote.
Under citizenship laws, a person is an Indian citizen by birth if born in the country on or after January 26, 1950, but before July 1, 1987. For those born after July 1987, citizenship by birth applies if either parent was a citizen. For those born on or after December 3, 2004, citizenship by birth applies only if both parents are Indian citizens, or if one parent is a citizen and the other is not an illegal immigrant at the time of birth.
On the same day, the MEA also highlighted the expansion of passport services and the rollout of chip-enabled e-passports. An official said 1.5 crore passports and related services were delivered in 2025, including 1.39 crore passports. The official also said passports are now delivered within six working days on average, excluding police verification, and that citizens spend less than 45 minutes on average at Passport Seva Kendras. The MEA said the number of passport service centres had risen to 545 from 77 a decade ago.
Writer and lyricist Javed Akhtar on Wednesday slammed the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA)' remark that a passport is not proof of citizenship, calling the statement absurd. His reaction came after MEA officials said that a passport is a travel document, not a document of citizenship.
In a post on X, the 81-year-old questioned how passports could be issued if the authorities were not fully satisfied that the holder was an Indian citizen.
“The Ministry of External Affairs says that a passport is a document for travel, not proof of citizenship. Really??? So are they providing this travel document to some people without being totally convinced that this person is an Indian citizen ?? It is absurd (sic),” he wrote.
He doubled down on the criticism when someone pointed out that even Aadhar, Voter ID and Pan aren't proof of citizenship. Responding to the X user, Akhtar commented, "Who in the system is giving such unconditional help to these illegal immigrants. Under such undesirable circumstances, how do they differentiate between the fake and the genuine citizens except on the whim of some petty official (sic)."
What did the MEA say?
The MEA, on the 14th Passport Seva Divas, said passports are primarily travel documents issued by the government to facilitate international travel, and that possessing a passport does not by itself establish citizenship.
The statement sparked a broader debate on X about what constitutes conclusive proof of citizenship. The issue drew attention because passports are issued only to Indian citizens, even as the MEA said the document itself does not define citizenship.
Earlier this year, during hearings on the Special Intensive Revision of voter rolls, the Supreme Court said Aadhaar was not conclusive proof of citizenship and was only a document of identity. A voter ID card is also not treated as a citizenship document and is mainly an identity and residence document used to exercise the right to vote.
Under citizenship laws, a person is an Indian citizen by birth if born in the country on or after January 26, 1950, but before July 1, 1987. For those born after July 1987, citizenship by birth applies if either parent was a citizen. For those born on or after December 3, 2004, citizenship by birth applies only if both parents are Indian citizens, or if one parent is a citizen and the other is not an illegal immigrant at the time of birth.
On the same day, the MEA also highlighted the expansion of passport services and the rollout of chip-enabled e-passports. An official said 1.5 crore passports and related services were delivered in 2025, including 1.39 crore passports. The official also said passports are now delivered within six working days on average, excluding police verification, and that citizens spend less than 45 minutes on average at Passport Seva Kendras. The MEA said the number of passport service centres had risen to 545 from 77 a decade ago.
