On June 24, the Ministry of External Affairs made a statement at a press briefing marking Passport Seva Divas that, had it not been almost immediately drowned in the noise of the Iran war, would have generated the political firestorm it deserved. “A passport is a travel document and not a document of citizenship,” a ministry official said.The reaction from the Opposition was immediate. Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal posted on X: “Which document then is proof of citizenship? BLO can doubt my citizenship. Deprive me of my vote. Result: BJP wins the election.” The government responded that the Ministry of External Affairs had not introduced any new rule but had merely restated a long-settled legal position. Both sides were, in their own fashion, correct and that is what makes the situation so alarming.India does not have a document that conclusively proves citizenship. Not a passport. Not Aadhaar, which the Supreme Court has repeatedly ruled establishes only identity and residence. Not a voter ID card, which courts have held is an administrative tool for electoral participation. Not a ration card nor a PAN card.In March 2020, Nityanand Rai, who was then minister of state for home affairs, in response to a question in Rajya Sabha that specifically asked which document proves citizenship, declined to identify any as definitive proof.The only formal citizenship certificate India issues is upon naturalisation or registration of a person who was previously a foreign national. For the vast majority of Indians, who are citizens by birth or descent, there is, in the strict legal sense, no document.This extraordinary void has been visible for decades in legal scholarship. The Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls by the Election Commission has now made this void visible to 140 crore people.The Modi Government is denying the validity of its own critical identity documents as proof of citizenship:➡️ Aadhaar❌➡️ PAN Card❌➡️ Voter ID❌➡️ Indian Passport❌@MEAIndia and @mygovindia must answer:👉If not an Indian passport, what other document can establish… pic.twitter.com/cTZUCiUcdG— Dr Syed Naseer Hussain, M P (@NasirHussainINC) June 25, 2026