# MEA Clarifies Passport Status in India
India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has clarified that a passport is a document designed to regulate the departure of Indian citizens from the country, not a determinant of citizenship. The clarification emphasizes that passport issuance follows the provisions of the Passports Act, 1967, the governing legislation for the document in India.
According to official sources cited by the MEA, the distinction between citizenship and passport possession is significant. The clarification underscores that holding a passport is separate from establishing or proving Indian citizenship. This distinction appears particularly relevant given that less than eight percent of Indians currently hold a passport, indicating that the vast majority of the country's population lacks this travel document while retaining full citizenship status.
The statement follows recent developments, though the specific circumstances prompting the clarification were not detailed in the available sources. The MEA's emphasis on the technical purpose of the passport suggests an effort to address misconceptions about what the document represents and its relationship to citizenship rights in India.
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