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Opinion National Interest PoV 50-Word Edit

ThePrint On Camera Videos In Pictures

Society & Culture Around Town Book Excerpts Vigyapanti The Dating Story

More Judiciary Education YourTurn Work With Us Campus Voice

Who is an Indian citizen? The onus is on govt to deliver a reliable, transparent NRC

Just as the government has simplified the framework for Overseas Citizens of India, it can determine a clear basis to establish the citizenship of Indians in India.

‘Who am I’ is no longer a mere metaphysical enquiry into the existence of ordinary mortals in India. It is an issue that questions one’s very identity as a citizen of India.

There are different documents one may possess to prove one’s identity, such as the Permanent Account Number (PAN), Aadhaar card, Voter ID card or even the highly coveted passport, ironically issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), certifying that one is an Indian. Notwithstanding all these, one is still not a bona fide citizen of India.

A few weeks ago, the MEA declared that a passport is primarily a travel document and should not be treated as conclusive proof of citizenship. The remarks sparked intense criticism and triggered an avalanche of debate on social media over what determines the citizenship of Indians. Many asked why the government was diluting the value of some of its most trusted documents, all issued after stringent verification and the personal guarantee of the beneficiary, in this case the citizen and/or voter.

The government washed its hands of the issue through a routine statement, saying there was no sudden policy shift and that the legal position on passports was not new. To add to the confusion, MEA officials sought refuge in the Passports Act, 1967, which, according to them, “clearly provides that passports may be issued to non-citizens under certain circumstances.”

A passport itself is not granted in a vacuum. It depends........

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