The latest Henley Passport Index has brought disappointing news for India, with the Indian passport slipping to the 85th spot, sharing its rank with Mauritania. Holders of an Indian passport can now travel visa-free to just 57 countries-a modest figure that contrasts sharply with Asia’s top performers such as Singapore, South Korea, and Japan. This development raises pertinent questions about the effectiveness of India’s global diplomacy and the real impact of its much-publicised rise as a major global player. The passport ranking reflects how the world perceives a nation’s stability, credibility, and reciprocity in foreign relations. While India’s economic and strategic stature has undoubtedly grown, the visa-free access accorded to its citizens has not kept pace. This mismatch indicates that the Government’s diplomatic and policy mechanisms have not fully translated into reciprocal trust and mobility benefits for Indian citizens.
A key factor behind India’s poor ranking is its relatively limited network of bilateral or reciprocal visa-free agreements. Countries like Singapore, Japan, and South Korea have actively negotiated such arrangements with global partners, ensuring their citizens greater travel freedom. India, on the other hand, has focused more on trade and security cooperation, with mobility facilitation taking a back seat. The slow pace of digital visa processing and cumbersome immigration procedures in India may also be discouraging other nations from offering reciprocal relaxations. Moreover, global factors such as rising migration concerns, tightening border controls, and post-pandemic travel restrictions have affected many nations, including developed ones like the United States and the United Kingdom, both of which have also dropped in rankings. However, this cannot be an excuse for complacency.
Visa-on-arrival and visa-free access are not merely conveniences for tourists; they are vital enablers for business people, students, patients, and professionals. They ease global movement, enhance trade opportunities, and project the image of a progressive, trusted nation. The EAM must prioritise this issue, pushing for more mutual visa agreements and simplifying processes for inbound travellers. Ultimately, passport strength is a reflection of national pride. India must approach this setback not as a statistic but as a call to action – to reform, negotiate, and ensure that its global stature is matched by the freedom its citizens enjoy abroad.
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