A clarification by the Ministry of External Affairs that a passport is not, by itself, conclusive proof of Indian citizenship has sparked a political debate and renewed questions over what documents definitively establish citizenship in India. The MEA's position draws a distinction between a passport serving as evidence of citizenship and being absolute proof of it. While passports are issued only after extensive verification under the Passports Act, 1967, the government retains the authority to revoke or impound them if citizenship claims are later found to be incorrect or obtained through misrepresentation.
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