Politics
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Congress hits Modi as passport ranking slips to 125th
The Times of India··6 Jul
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on July 6, 2026, sharply criticised PM Modi's government after the Global Passport Index 2026 ranked India 125th with visa-free access to 26 destinations, down from 124th last year. Kharge alleged government policies hurt India's global reputation and questioned passport fee hikes from July 1 without improved services for Indian citizens.
Prism
What It Means For You
- Indian travellers face higher passport fees from July 1, 2026.
- Weaker passport rankings mean fewer visa-free destinations.
- Tourists and NRIs depend on improved visa and passport services.
What's Happening
- Congress chief Kharge attacked government over passport rankings on July 6.
- Global Passport Index 2026 ranked India 125th.
- Passport application fees were revised upward from July 1.
Policy Context
- India has visa-free access to 26 destinations per the index.
- Foreign tourist arrivals remain below pre-COVID 2019 levels.
- Kharge contrasted current rankings with Modi's 2018 remarks.
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