SOURCE: AFI
In recent years, there has been a disturbing trend where individuals from Nepal and Bangladesh have resorted to fraudulent methods to obtain Indian passports, aiming to travel abroad for better job prospects or to circumvent visa restrictions in their home countries. This issue has not only led to legal complications but also poses a significant threat to the integrity and global standing of the Indian passport.
The modus operandi often involves the use of counterfeit documents like fake Aadhaar cards, PAN cards, and birth certificates to apply for and secure Indian passports. These documents are crucial for establishing identity and residency within India, prerequisites for obtaining a passport. Agents, sometimes in collusion with corrupt officials, facilitate this process by providing a full suite of falsified identity proofs. This has led to numerous arrests and the discovery of networks spread across cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, and Kolkata, where such fraudulent activities are rampant.
One of the immediate impacts of these fraudulent activities is the potential for security breaches. When passports are issued based on false identities, it can lead to issues of terrorism, human trafficking, and other criminal activities crossing international borders under the guise of Indian citizenship. This not only undermines national security but also erodes trust in the Indian passport system.
Moreover, this scenario could have a long-term detrimental effect on India’s passport ranking. The Henley Passport Index, which assesses the global mobility of citizens based on visa-free access to other countries, might be influenced by the perceived reliability of a nation’s passport. An increase in cases of passport fraud could lead countries to impose stricter visa requirements for Indian passport holders, thereby reducing the number of destinations Indians can visit without prior visa arrangements. Currently, India’s passport enjoys a respectable ranking, but consistent breaches could lower this standing, affecting the ease with which Indian citizens can travel internationally.
The impact on passport ranking is not just about numbers; it’s about international relations and perceptions of governance. A high incidence of fraudulent passport acquisition can lead to diplomatic tensions, where countries might demand more stringent checks or even impose visa bans. This could complicate travel not only for individuals involved in fraud but also for legitimate travelers, who might face increased scrutiny and delays.
The government of India has been taking measures to curb this menace, including enhancing verification processes, increasing surveillance at border areas, and cracking down on agents involved in these rackets. However, the challenge is considerable due to the vastness of India’s borders with Nepal and Bangladesh, which are often porous and difficult to monitor completely.
To safeguard the integrity of the Indian passport, there must be a multi-faceted approach. This includes technological upgrades in passport issuance systems, stronger international cooperation to track and verify identities, and public awareness campaigns to deter potential fraudsters. Additionally, there should be stringent punishment for those involved in these fraudulent activities to act as a deterrent.
NOTE: AFI is a proud outsourced content creator partner of IDRW.ORG. All content created by AFI is the sole property of AFI and is protected by copyright. AFI takes copyright infringement seriously and will pursue all legal options available to protect its content.