Indian Passport Ranked 84th in Global Passport Index
In a recent report released by the Henley Passport Index, the Indian passport has been ranked 84th out of 199 countries, allowing its holders visa-free access to 58 destinations worldwide. This ranking comes as no surprise to many Indian citizens, who have long been aware of the limitations of their passport when it comes to ease of travel.
The Henley Passport Index is a global ranking of countries based on the freedom of travel their passports provide. It takes into account the number of destinations that can be visited without a visa, as well as the ease of obtaining a visa for other countries. The index is updated regularly to reflect changes in visa agreements and travel regulations around the world.
According to the latest report, the Japanese passport holds the top spot on the index, with visa-free access to 191 destinations. This is followed by Singapore in second place, with 190 destinations, and Germany in third place, with 189 destinations. The Indian passport, on the other hand, ranks below countries such as Sri Lanka, Bhutan, and Nepal, which have visa-free access to 45, 50, and 61 destinations respectively.
The ranking of the Indian passport has long been a matter of concern for many Indian citizens, who often face difficulties in traveling to other countries due to visa restrictions. In recent years, the Indian government has made efforts to improve the global standing of the Indian passport by increasing visa-free access for its citizens and entering into visa waiver agreements with other countries.
Despite these efforts, the Indian passport continues to lag behind those of many other countries in terms of global mobility. This has led to calls for the government to do more to improve the visa-free access of Indian citizens and to negotiate better travel agreements with other countries.
In response to the latest ranking, the Ministry of External Affairs issued a statement reaffirming the government’s commitment to improving the global standing of the Indian passport. The statement highlighted the efforts being made to negotiate visa waiver agreements with key countries and to streamline the visa application process for Indian citizens.
Many Indian citizens welcomed the government’s statement but expressed frustration at the slow progress being made in improving the global mobility of the Indian passport. Some called for more proactive measures to be taken, such as increasing diplomatic efforts to negotiate visa-free access with other countries and improving the efficiency of the visa application process.
In the meantime, Indian citizens continue to face challenges when traveling abroad, with many having to navigate complex visa requirements and lengthy processing times. Some have even resorted to acquiring second passports from other countries to ease their travel woes.
As the global mobility landscape continues to evolve, it is clear that the ranking of the Indian passport will remain an important issue for many Indian citizens. While efforts are being made to improve the situation, more needs to be done to ensure that Indian citizens can enjoy the same freedom of travel as citizens of other countries. Only then can the Indian passport truly take its place among the top ranks of the Henley Passport Index.
