India’s position in the latest Henley Passport index dipped from 80 in 2024 to 85 in 2025, continuing the downward trend for the country’s passport strength. While the national media has been building a narrative of more countries ‘respecting and welcoming’ India on the global stage, the 2025 passport index ranking contradicts that narrative.

Contrary to India’s repositioning as an aggressive and assertive player in International politics, India’s ordinary passport bearers can only visit 57 destinations without a visa, among which are mostly small island nations, and overseas territories, which welcome not just Indians, but tourists from most countries for their economic survival.