India’s passport has slipped to the 85th spot on the latest Henley Passport Index, a global ranking that measures how many countries a passport holder can enter without a visa. This marks a drop of five places from last year, even though India is the world’s fifth-largest economy. Surprisingly, smaller nations like Rwanda, Ghana, and Azerbaijan now rank higher.

Indian passport holders currently have visa-free access to 57 countries, the same number as Mauritania. In comparison, Singapore tops the list with access to 193 countries, followed by South Korea and Japan. Experts say passport strength reflects a nation’s global image, political stability, and diplomatic relations. A weaker passport means more paperwork, longer wait times, higher visa fees, and fewer travel opportunities.

India’s rank has fluctuated over the years - 76th in 2014, 90th in 2021, 80th in 2023, and now back to 85. Although visa-free access has increased over time, other countries are improving faster. Security issues, visa fraud, and slow immigration processes also hurt India’s standing.

Experts suggest that stronger diplomacy, better passport security, and faster e-passport rollout can help India rise in global mobility rankings.