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MEA stated that "A passport is a travel document, and not a document of citizenship." Responding to this, the Opposition questioned which document then serves as proof of citizenship. The government cites the Passport Act 1967 and the Bombay HC 2013 ruling for clarification.

New Delhi, Jun 25 (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi will undertake a State visit to Seychelles from June 27-29 during which he will hold talks with President Patrick Herminie to review the full spectrum of bilateral cooperation and also attend the golden jubilee celebrations of the National Day of Seychelles, the MEA announced on Thursday. [...]

Opposition leaders questioned the MEA after it said passports are travel documents, not proof of Indian citizenship.

An MEA official recently reiterated that a passport is a "travel document" and not a "citizenship document". The clarification settles one debate about the passport, but opens up 5 larger questions about verification, ownership, surrender, and citizenship itself.

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.

MEA's clarification that a passport is a travel document, not proof of citizenship, has reignited debate over what legally establishes Indian citizenship. The answer is more complex than any single ID card., India News, Times Now

"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

A clarification by MEA on passport being just a travel document raises a key question: What exactly is legal proof of Indian citizenship? ThePrint explains.

Clarification came after MEA said during briefing that passport is a travel document & should not be considered definitive proof of citizenship. Remarks led Oppn leaders to criticise Centre.

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