India’s passport falls to 85th rank in world's most powerful passports index
New Delhi: India has slipped to 85th place out of 199 countries in the latest 2025 Henley Passport Index, released on Wednesday, down from 77th in July.
The quarterly report, published by citizenship and residence consultancy Henley and Partners, ranks passports based on the number of countries their holders can enter without a pre-departure visa.
According to the index, Indian passport holders can now travel visa-free to 57 countries, a decline from 62 countries last year when India was ranked 80th. Countries allowing visa-free entry to Indians include Angola, Barbados, Bhutan, Bolivia, British Virgin Islands, Cambodia, Indonesia, Iran, Jamaica, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Malaysia, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Thailand, among others.
Among India’s neighbours, Pakistan ranked 103rd, down from 96th in July; Bangladesh stood at 100th; Nepal at 101st; and Bhutan at 92nd.
Singapore retained its position as the world’s strongest passport, with citizens able to travel to 193 countries without a pre-departure visa. South Korea ranked second with access to 190 destinations, followed by Japan with 189.
For the first time in the index’s 20-year history, the United States fell out of the top 10 most powerful passports.
At the bottom of the index, Afghanistan holds the least powerful passport, granting visa-free access to only 24 countries, followed by Syria with 26 and Iraq with 29 visa-free destinations.
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Minister Patil chairs industry meetings to chart growth for key sectors in Karnataka
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Minister M B Patil on Tuesday chaired meetings with industry representatives from the aerospace and defence, machine tools, auto/EV, and green energy sectors to discuss sector growth and government support measures.
The meetings were attended by leading industrialists and their representatives, with some participating virtually.
Speaking on the occasion, the minister for Large and Medium Industries said Karnataka is at the forefront of the country’s aerospace and defence sectors.
He noted that Suzuki and Toyota plan to launch aerial taxi services in Japan by 2028, with Bengaluru-based Sasmos supplying electrical equipment for the project.
Industrialists suggested introducing similar “fly-taxi” services in Karnataka through an appropriate policy, which Patil said would be examined seriously.
The minister highlighted the need to establish testing centres and Common Facility Centres for the aerospace and defence industries and assured that these facilities would be provided.
Suggestions were also made to prepare a comprehensive roadmap for sector growth.
Karnataka has urged the Central Government to approve Defence Corridor projects in the Bengaluru North–Kolar–Chikkaballapur and Dharawada–Vijayapura–Belagavi regions.
Industrialists also suggested a corridor between Bengaluru and Mysuru, Patil said.
He said Karnataka aims to become a hub for defence electronics manufacturing, with plans to establish a 200-acre Defence Electronics Park and a 100-acre Avionics and Sensor Park.
These projects will be implemented once the Special Investment Region is operational, and land availability will not be an issue.
On the machine tools sector, Patil said the industry has recorded an annual turnover of Rs 36,500 crore and is witnessing steady growth.
Large-scale exhibitions have increased demand, and the state must strengthen its capabilities to develop control systems for heavy machinery. One testing unit is already operational in Bengaluru, with another planned for Tumakuru. Expansion of vocational training institutes in industrial areas is also underway.
In the Auto and EV sector, Vision Group members highlighted the need for a network of dry ports and more EV charging stations across the state.
Patil noted that the Tata Group is manufacturing EV buses in Dharawada for nationwide supply. Plans for mini excavator production and export facilitation were also discussed, along with the establishment of a testing facility for two-wheeler EVs.
For the Green Energy sector, the group emphasised the need for a suitable policy on battery-based energy storage and the establishment of data centres.
Patil assured that the government will seriously consider all suggestions and respond positively.
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