Congress Targets Centre Over Indian Passport's Global Ranking, Questions Modi Govt's Claims

The Congress on Monday launched a sharp attack on the Narendra Modi government , alleging that its policies have weakened India's global reputation , citing the decline in the country's passport ranking across international indices. The opposition party also questioned the government's claims about the growing strength of the Indian passport and raised concerns over passport fees, visa services, and tourism recovery.

In a post on X, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 2018 statement in which he had said that Indians travelling and living abroad were witnessing the growing respect and strength of the Indian passport.

Questioning that claim, Kharge asked where that "strength" is reflected today, arguing that international rankings tell a different story. According to him, one global passport ranking places India at 80th position in June 2026 , down from 74th in 2013 , while another global passport index ranks the country at 125th this year.

The Congress chief alleged that instead of improving public services, the government has made passports more expensive. He claimed that the standard passport application fee has increased from Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,500 , while Tatkal passport charges have risen to Rs 5,000 .

Kharge also questioned the government's performance in reviving tourism after the pandemic. Citing official figures, he said Foreign Tourist Arrivals have not yet returned to their pre-COVID levels, dropping from 10.93 million in 2019 to 9.95 million in 2024 . He further alleged that the government may be presenting an improved picture by combining NRI arrivals with foreign tourist data.

Another issue highlighted by the Congress leader was India's official visa application portal, which he described as outdated and difficult to use. Referring to India's long-standing philosophy of "Atithi Devo Bhava" , Kharge questioned why international visitors continue to face an inconvenient visa application experience.

Summing up his criticism, Kharge said that if the Indian passport has become weaker, tourism is yet to fully recover, visa services remain inefficient, and citizens are paying higher fees, then the government's claims about India's enhanced global respect do not match the ground reality.

The remarks are likely to add another political flashpoint between the Congress and the BJP , with the opposition using international rankings and public service issues to challenge the Centre's governance record.