RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2150
TO BE ANSWERED ON 16.12.2021
PASSPORT POWER INDEX
2150. SMT. MAUSAM NOOR:
Will the Minister of External Affairs be pleased to state:
(a) whether according to a report of Passport Power Index, India ranks 70th position in 2021, as compared to its 2020 rank of 61st position;
(b) the reasons for such a fall in ranking in global passport power ranking index; and
(c) the manner in which exempting Canada and U.K from granting e-visa as a reciprocating move will help India’s economy and improve its ranking globally in terms of Passport Power Index?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
[SHRI V. MURALEEDHARAN]
(a) to (c) There are certain private institutions which publish such Passport rankings based on parameters decided by them.
The Government has been continually making efforts to increase number of countries that may provide Visa free travel, Visa-on-Arrival and e-Visa facilities to Indian nationals. In 2014 there were 35 countries providing Visa-on-Arrival facilities to Indian nationals which has now increased to 40 countries. In addition, 16 countries provide Visa-free entry and 35 countries provide e-Visa facilities to Indian nationals.
While issuance of visa and visa related process is a sovereign decision of the respective country, the matter regarding easier and liberalized visa policy, including e-Visa scheme, depends on several factors, including the principle of reciprocity.
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