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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Barber held for beating man to death over 'bidi' in east Delhi
New Delhi (PTI): A 32-year-old barber was arrested on Wednesday for allegedly beating a man to death following an altercation over a 'bidi' in east Delhi's Pandav Nagar area, police said.
A call regarding the incident that occurred near the bus stand road in Shashi Garden was received at 1.24 am, they said.
The victim was identified as Deepak (28), while the accused was Manoj, he added.
According to the police, during an argument, the accused picked up a wooden stick lying nearby and struck the victim repeatedly on the head. Multiple injuries and bruise marks were also found on the victim's forehead.
"Deepak was taken to Lal Bahadur Shastri Hospital, but doctors declared him brought dead," an officer said.
An FIR has been registered and further investigation is underway, the officer added.
