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The passport is not proof of citizenship, government sources stressed to NDTV this week after a furious debate online on that topic. The debate was sparked by a foreign ministry official's remark that a passport is only a travel document.

"It was not decided yesterday that the Passport is not a proof of citizenship. It was not even decided in the last 12 years," a government official said. | India News

The debate also spilled onto social media, where several users questioned what constitutes definitive proof of citizenship.

The Centre says citizenship is determined under the Citizenship Act, not by a single document. Here's what records can help establish Indian citizenship.

While some pointed out that passports could only be issued to Indian citizens, others jibed at the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre. | India News

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has reignited controversy by stating that a passport is a travel documents and is not a proof of citizenship. , India News, Times Now

The MEA also underlined measures incorporated in the new chip-based e-passports, such as biometric data, to boost global acceptance and reduce the risk of fraud.

Officials stressed the document's primary purpose is to enable international travel and establish identity abroad.

Ministry of External Affairs on Wednesday clarified that passports are travel documents and not a document of citizenship., India News, Times Now

On Passport Seva Divas, the MEA said that a passport does not by itself serve as proof of citizenship, despite being issued exclusively to Indian citizens. The clarification has sparked fresh debate over the documents that can be used to conclusively verify citizenship status.