Editorial

India’s passport has shown a modest but notable improvement in the Henley Passport Index 2026, climbing five places to rank 80th globally (tied with Algeria and Niger), granting holders visa-free, visa-on-arrival, or eTA access to 55 destinations. This marks a step up from its 85th position in 2025. Yet, the headline improvement comes with a bittersweet caveat: the actual number of accessible destinations has dropped from 57 to 55, primarily due to policy changes in Iran and Bolivia.

The Mixed Picture: Progress Amid Setbacks
On one hand, the ranking gain signals gradual diplomatic headway. India’s rise reflects incremental gains in reciprocal agreements, improved bilateral ties with several nations (especially in Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Caribbean), and perhaps the cumulative effect of sustained economic growth and outbound tourism pressure. For a country with the world’s largest population and a rapidly expanding middle class, even small upward movements in global mobility rankings carry symbolic weight—they project soft power and signal that India is slowly shedding its long-standing image as a low-mobility passport nation.

On the other hand, the net loss of two destinations underscores persistent vulnerabilities. Iran suspended visa-free entry for ordinary Indian passport holders in late November 2025 following security concerns tied to unregulated labour migration channels and reported kidnappings/ransom cases. Bolivia, effective January 2026, replaced its straightforward visa-on-arrival system with a mandatory e-Visa requirement. These reversals highlight how fragile visa waivers can be—often dependent on short-term bilateral goodwill, security incidents, or domestic political shifts in partner countries rather than India’s own sustained diplomatic leverage.

What This Really Means for Indians
• Symbolic win vs. practical reality — A higher rank is good PR, but the absolute number of truly hassle-free destinations matters far more for everyday travellers, students, business professionals, and families. Losing Iran (a culturally and historically significant destination for many Indians) and Bolivia (a growing eco-tourism spot) feels like a step backward, especially when the overall count dips.

• The global divide widens — The 2026 index starkly illustrates Henley’s point about a growing “passport divide.” Singapore leads with 192 destinations, followed closely by Japan and South Korea (188 each), while many Global South passports, including India’s, remain clustered in the 50–60 range. This gap isn’t just about travel convenience; it affects education abroad, job opportunities, medical tourism, and even emergency mobility.

• Long-term implications — India’s passport power has historically lagged behind its economic rise (now the world’s 4th or 5th largest economy). To close the gap meaningfully, New Delhi must prioritize deeper, more durable visa liberalization agreements—perhaps through multilateral forums like BIMSTEC, ASEAN ties, or expanded reciprocity with Latin America and Africa. The recent losses also serve as a reminder that security and migration governance issues can quickly erode gains.

In essence, the 2026 update is a tale of cautious optimism tempered by realism. The five-spot climb deserves recognition as evidence of incremental progress in India’s global integration. But the drop to 55 destinations reminds us that true passport strength isn’t measured only by rankings—it’s measured by reliable, reciprocal access that survives geopolitical hiccups and policy reversals. Until India consistently adds more destinations than it loses (and ideally accelerates toward the 80–100 range), celebrations should remain measured. For millions of aspiring Indian travellers, the real breakthrough will come not from climbing five spots, but from ensuring those spots translate into meaningful freedom of movement.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has ushered in a new era by electing Nitin Nabin as its national president at the age of 45, making him the youngest leader to hold this pivotal position in the party’s history. This unopposed election, formalized on January 19, 2026, and followed by a formal takeover ceremony on January 20 at the BJP headquarters in New Delhi, signals a deliberate generational shift aimed at energizing the party’s ranks and broadening its appeal to India’s burgeoning youth demographic. Nitin Nabin’s ascent is remarkable. A five-term MLA from Bihar’s Bankipur constituency in Patna, he hails from a political family—his late father, Nabin Kishore Prasad Sinha, was a respected BJP figure.

Entering politics in 2006 after his father’s demise, Nabin has built a reputation as a dedicated organizer, grassroots worker, and effective administrator. His recent stint as National Working President since December 2025 positioned him as the natural successor to J.P. Nadda. The overwhelming support—37 sets of nominations backed by heavyweights including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, and Nitin Gadkari—underscores the consensus within the party leadership. Modi himself humorously referred to Nabin as his “boss” in party matters, highlighting the symbolic deference to organizational authority even as the PM retains overarching influence.

This move is far from routine. In an India where over 65% of the population is under 35, the BJP recognizes the imperative to project dynamism and relatability. Nabin, described in party circles as a “millennial” leader with strong organizational acumen, embodies this pivot. His election comes ahead of future electoral cycles where youth turnout, digital engagement, and issues like employment, education, and technology will dominate. By elevating a relatively younger figure from Bihar—one of the country’s most populous and politically crucial states—the BJP also reinforces its commitment to regional balance and inclusivity beyond traditional power centers.

Critics, including opposition voices, have questioned the “unopposed” nature of the process, likening it to a coronation rather than a democratic contest. Yet, within the BJP’s structure, such consensus-driven selections are not uncommon and reflect internal cohesion after exhaustive grassroots polls. The real test lies ahead: Can Nabin translate this symbolic refresh into tangible gains—mobilizing young voters, strengthening booth-level machinery, and navigating challenges like economic aspirations and social polarization?

Ultimately, Nabin’s presidency represents strategic foresight. It positions the BJP not just as a party of continuity under Modi’s vision, but as one adaptable to India’s evolving electorate. If harnessed effectively, this generational handoff could solidify the party’s dominance for years to come, proving that leadership renewal is as vital as ideological consistency in sustaining political relevance.

• SAS Kirmani