India’s passport ranking drops to 148 among 199 countries
New Delhi: India’s passport ranking has fallen to 148th place among 199 countries, down from 147th last year, in a list of the world’s most powerful passports, according to the latest Nomad Capitalist Passport Index 2025.
The index, released by the tax and immigration consultancy firm Nomad Capitalist, ranks passports based on five key parameters: visa-free travel (50%), taxation (20%), global perception (10%), dual citizenship (10%), and personal freedom (10%).
The index uses government data from 199 passport-issuing countries and territories, alongside real-time intelligence and proprietary research, to measure the ease of travel, which includes visa-free access, visa on arrival, and electronic travel authorizations (eTA/eVisa).
India shared the 148th spot with the East African country of Comoros, with a total score of 47.5. Last year, it held the 147th rank with Mozambique.
Ireland was ranked as the world’s strongest passport of 2025 on the Nomad Capitalist Passport Index, due to Irish citizens’ “right to live and work freely across the European Union and, uniquely, in the United Kingdom”.
Switzerland followed in second place, followed by Greece, Portugal, Malta, Italy, Luxembourg, Finland, Norway, the United Arab Emirates, New Zealand and Iceland. The United States held the joint 45th rank alongside San Marino.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, countries like Pakistan, Iraq, Eritrea, Yemen, and Afghanistan were ranked among the weakest passports, placing from 195th to 199th.
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Bengaluru autorickshaw driver killed as metro rail viaduct falls on him
Bengaluru (PTI): An autorickshaw driver was killed and his passenger sustained serious injuries when a metro rail viaduct being transported on truck fell on the auto here in the wee hours of Wednesday, police said.
The deceased auto driver Kasim, a resident of Hegde Nagar, was receiving money from the passenger when the viaduct fell on them at Kogilu Cross, police added.
The truck driver fled the spot after the accident.
According to an eyewitness, the 18-wheel truck carrying the concrete viaduct was taking a turn when the viaduct slipped from it and fell on the autorickshaw, killing the driver instantly.
Seriously injured passenger of the autorickshaw is being treated in a hospital, the BMRCL source said.
