Why in NEWS

India has improved its position to 77th in the Henley Passport Index 2025 (Q2), rising from 85th in Q1, reflecting an increase in global travel freedom for Indian citizens.

Key Terms and Concepts

Term	Description
Henley Passport Index	A global ranking of passports based on the number of visa-free destinations
IATA	International Air Transport Association; provides passport data to Henley
Visa-Free Access	Entry to a country without requiring a visa beforehand

Details of India’s Performance in 2025

Parameter	Q1 2025	Q2 2025
Henley Passport Index Rank	85	77
Visa-Free or Visa-on-Arrival Access	57 destinations	59 destinations
New Visa-Free Additions	—	Philippines, Sri Lanka

Global Rankings Snapshot

Rank	Country	Visa-Free Access
1	Singapore	193 destinations
2	Japan, S. Korea	190 destinations
77	India	59 destinations

About the Henley Passport Index

Aspect	Details
Coverage	199 passports and 227 destinations
Data Source	IATA (International Air Transport Association)
Update Frequency	Quarterly
IATA HQ	Montreal, Canada
IATA Coverage	300 airlines, 83% of global air traffic

In a nutshell

“INDIA 77@59” – India’s passport now grants access to 59 nations, ranking 77th globally.

Prelims Practice Questions

1. The Henley Passport Index ranks countries based on:
   A. Number of embassies abroad
   B. Global tourism statistics
   C. Visa-free access to other nations
   D. Air traffic capacity
2. As of Q2 2025, which countries offer new visa-free access to Indian passport holders?
   A. Bhutan and Nepal
   B. Maldives and Thailand
   C. Philippines and Sri Lanka
   D. UAE and Singapore
3. Where is the headquarters of IATA located?
   A. Geneva
   B. Montreal
   C. New York
   D. Paris

Answer Key with Explanation

Qn	Answer	Explanation
1	C	The index is based on visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to destinations.
2	C	Philippines and Sri Lanka were added as visa-free destinations for Indians.
3	B	IATA is headquartered in Montreal, Canada.