Indian passport at its highest rank in over decade, yet mobility gap remains wide
India's visa-free access has seen modest fluctuations over the past decade. In 2016, Indian passport holders could access 52 destinations without a prior visa, which dropped to 49 in 2017. However, the number rose sharply to 60 in 2018, marking one of the highest jumps in recent years. Since then, access has remained relatively stable, hovering between 58 and 62 countries.During the pandemic in 2021, while India's passport rank fell to its lowest, visa-free access still held steady at 58 destinations. In 2024, visa access peaked at 62 countries, before slightly declining to 59 in 2025, even as the ranking improved.Obtaining visa-free access to more countries can make international travel easier and more affordable for the public in India. It means they can visit other countries without going through long visa processes, saving both time and money. Students and jobseekers also benefit, as they can attend events, interviews, or educational fairs without worrying about visa delays.Regional comparisonAn analysis of key Asian nations shows that Singapore leads the global ranking, securing the top spot, followed closely by Japan and South Korea, which are tied for second place. The United Arab Emirates holds a strong position at eighth. Other countries like China, the Maldives, Turkey, and Thailand all rank higher than India.But in South Asia, India holds the second-highest passport ranking, just behind the Maldives. Maldives citizens can travel to 93 destinations without a visa, giving them a significantly higher degree of global mobility. All of India's neighbouring countries rank lower: Bhutan 84th, Sri Lanka 91st, Bangladesh 94th, Nepal 95th, and Pakistan 96th. Afghanistan remains the lowest globally, ranking 99th, with access to only 28 destinations.Limited mobilityDespite the recent improvement, the Indian passport still provides limited travel freedom compared to major Asian countries. The gap between India and the top-ranking passports remains significant, especially with many of them offering access to over 180 countries.While some countries have improved their global mobility, others have seen a steady decline. The United States, which once held the top position in 2014, has slipped to 10th place in the 2025 Henley Passport Index. The United Kingdom, which was also among the top-ranking passports in 2014, is now sixth.- EndsMust Watch
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The Hindu
an hour ago
- The Hindu
Modi inaugurates long-delayed Yellow Line of Bengaluru Metro, flags off Vande Bharat to Belagavi
Bengaluru's long wait for the Yellow Line of Namma Metro finally ended on Sunday, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the 19.15-km corridor linking R.V. Road to Bommasandra. The Prime Minister also flagged off the Vande Bharat Express between Bengaluru and Belagavi, along with two other Vande Bharat services launched virtually. The Yellow Line, a key metro link connecting the city's IT hub in Electronics City and expected to significantly ease traffic congestion at bottlenecks like the Silk Board junction, has been plagued by delays since construction began in 2017. Originally envisioned in the 2011 Detailed Project Report (DPR) prepared by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), the project was initially scheduled for completion by December 2021. However, setbacks including protracted land acquisition, disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, and delays in rolling stock supply from Chinese manufacturer CRRC Nanjing pushed the timeline by nearly four years. A packed schedule for the Prime Minister Mr. Modi arrived in Bengaluru on Sunday morning at HAL Airport and then travelled by helicopter to the Indian Air Force Training Command in the city, where he was received by Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. His first stop was the Krantivira Sangolli Rayanna (KSR) Railway Station in Majestic, where he flagged off three Vande Bharat Express trains, the KSR Bengaluru–Belagavi service, the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra–Amritsar service, and the Nagpur (Ajni)–Pune service, the latter two launched virtually. Following the event, the Prime Minister proceeded to Ragigudda Metro Station to inaugurate the Yellow Line. There, he flagged off the inaugural service, tried out the QR code-enabled ticket vending machines, and boarded the metro to Electronic City. Speaking to The Hindu, a Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) official said the train was piloted by a woman loco pilot. 'Schoolchildren, metro officials, and some members of the public were also onboard, and Mr. Modi interacted with them during the journey,' the official said, adding the commercial operation to be starting from Monday. At the end of his metro ride to Infosys Foundation Konappana Agrahara Metro Station, the Prime Minister moved to the IIIT Auditorium in Electronics City Phase 1. There, he laid the foundation stone for Namma Metro's Phase 3, also known as the Orange Line, and addressed a gathering. Phase 3 to expand network to 222 km Phase 3 will be fully elevated and is planned to serve underserved areas along Magadi Road and the western portion of the Outer Ring Road (ORR). Once completed in 2029, it is projected to accommodate 7.85 lakh daily commuters and will extend Bengaluru's metro network to 222.2 km, according to BMRCL officials. The project has cleared all mandatory hurdles, receiving Union Cabinet approval in August 2024. Political slugfest ahead of the launch The inauguration also became a stage for political one-upmanship. At Ragigudda Metro Station, Congress supporters raised slogans in favour of Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar. Hours before the inauguration, Mr. Shivakumar accused the BJP-led Central government of contributing only 20% towards the cost of the Yellow Line, claiming the State government bore the remaining 80%. In certain cases, he said, the Centre's contribution was as low as 11%. Speaking to reporters, he urged the Prime Minister to sanction at least ₹1 lakh crore for Bengaluru's development, stating that the State government had funded the entire land acquisition despite the Centre being expected to share 50% of the cost. 'Even though Bengaluru is the country's second-highest tax-paying city, the grants we receive are minimal,' he said, adding that Ahmedabad receives a 20% share of tax allocations compared to Bengaluru's 10%. 'We should be treated like other major cities and considered alongside the national capital.' Mr. Shivakumar also criticised BJP MPs from Karnataka, alleging they had failed to secure meaningful grants for the State. 'Posting on X and appearing in photos is not an achievement. BJP MPs should focus on bringing funds instead of playing politics,' he said. A vital corridor Built at a cost of ₹7,610 crore, the Yellow Line adds 16 stations to Namma Metro's network, expanding the operational length to 96 km. The fully elevated line incorporates the city's first driverless train technology, though services will initially be operated by loco pilots. BMRCL officials expect the Yellow Line to carry over 2.5 lakh passengers daily once the full fleet of trains is delivered and operational. The corridor integrates with major metro lines at key junctions: R.V. Road (Green Line), Jayadeva Hospital (Pink Line), and Central Silk Board (Blue Line, Phases 2A & 2B). Another notable feature is its integration with the city's first double-decker flyover between Silk Board Junction and Ragigudda Metro Station, designed to ease one of Bengaluru's most congested stretches. The Yellow Line is expected to bring much-needed relief to thousands of employees working in Electronic City, a major IT cluster hosting several multinational companies. By offering a direct metro connection from the southern residential areas to the IT hub, the line could significantly cut commuting times, reduce dependence on private vehicles, and ease pressure on the city's overburdened road network. Delayed project When construction began in 2017, expectations were high that the Yellow Line would be operational within four years. However, the project encountered several roadblocks. Land acquisition delays slowed initial progress, while the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted labour supply, construction schedules, and logistics. A major blow came from delays in receiving rolling stock from CRRC Nanjing, the Chinese manufacturer contracted to supply the train. In 2019, CRRC was awarded a ₹1,578-crore contract to supply 216 metro coaches, with the condition that it establish a manufacturing facility in India, a commitment the company failed to meet. This non-compliance significantly slowed the project, prompting the BMRCL to issue multiple notices to CRRC and even consider invoking a ₹372-crore bank guarantee. To break the deadlock, CRRC entered into a partnership with Kolkata-based Titagarh Rail Systems Limited, which allowed train deliveries to resume. At present, the Yellow Line has only three train sets in operation. A fourth set is en route from the Titagarh facility and is expected to be delivered to Bengaluru Metro by mid-August, officials said.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Aviation market: India is ‘interesting' and key to growth, says Malaysia Airlines; aims to be core service link without domestic JV
Malaysia Airlines Berhad sees India as an 'interesting' and high-potential market and wants to be accepted as one of the country's core service providers connecting it to the rest of the world, Group Managing Director of Malaysia Aviation Group Berhad, Izham bin Ismail has said. The Southeast Asian premium carrier, headquartered in Kuala Lumpur, operates 77 flights per week across 10 Indian destinations and counts India as its top revenue generator, ahead of Australia and the UK. It carried 1.3 million inbound and outbound passengers in the first half of 2025, contributing about 11 per cent to its revenue and 20 per cent of its passenger volumes. 'I see the urbanisation rate of India at 40 per cent, with middle-class income earners rising, comfortable disposable incomes, a GDP of 6.5 per cent, 1.4 billion people and nearly 100 airports. India is a really interesting market,' Ismail told PTI. 'We wish to capitalise on the rapid economic growth of India, but we are not an India-based airline. We wish that India accepts us as one of the core service providers that connects India to the rest of the world. ' He indicated that Malaysia Airlines intends to remain a foreign airline in the Indian market rather than forming a joint venture or becoming an Indian carrier. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Learn More - How Donating Sperm May Boost Your Income SpellRock Undo 'Why should I go to somebody's home and create havoc? I would rather visit from time to time and be friends than try to build a house in your compound. While some companies expand that way, we believe in deep partnerships,' he said. Stating that his airline is not evaluating any new destinations this year in India, he said there might be some in 2026, adding that "predominantly our target 2026-2027 onwards is seats capacity. " "We are watching the marketplaces like Jaipur and all that. The team is evaluating. So the strategy now is increasing frequency. A lot of airlines have products in food, cabin, in-flight entertainment and many others, but the other product that we must really not forget is frequency and connectivity," he said. Malaysia Airlines, which collaborates with codeshare partners including IndiGo, operates across 900 destinations in 170 territories worldwide. IndiGo remains its strongest partner in India, though the carrier also works with Air India. Ismail said Malaysia Airlines is strong in connecting India with Australia and New Zealand and offers a hub through Kuala Lumpur to China, which currently lacks direct air connectivity with India. The carrier plans to increase flights to 80 per week from December 1. Its focus for 2026–2027 will be on seat capacity growth rather than adding new Indian destinations this year, though markets like Jaipur are under evaluation. 'The strategy now is increasing frequency. A lot of airlines have products in food, cabin and in-flight entertainment, but we must not forget frequency and connectivity,' he said, quoted PTI. Ismail also stressed that Malaysia Airlines balances fleet expansion with customer experience investment. 'We have invested a lot in food, cabin services and ordering new planes. You don't splash money to buy aeroplanes — you invest where it matters most, which is our customer,' he said. Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays , public holidays , current gold rate and silver price .
NDTV
an hour ago
- NDTV
Noida Resident's Rakhi Plans Spoiled By Rain, Cab Drivers: 'Missed My Train Home'
The spirit and fervour to celebrate Raksha Bandhan was dampened slightly by the incessant rain and waterlogged streets, especially in the Delhi NCR on Saturday (Aug 9). Now, a Noida resident has shared their experience on Reddit, lamenting how they missed their train due to the weather and subsequent lack of cab services. The user pointed out that he had been excited to visit their family on the day of the festival for which train tickets had been booked, but things soon took a turn for the worse. "I was so excited to go home and celebrate with them, but when I started booking my ride from Ola, Uber and Rapido, there was no response. I tried 15 minutes with all the prices I could, but no one picked my ride, it was raining outside," the user wrote in the r/noida subreddit. "I took my bike and went outside so that I might find any auto or Uber driver sitting. I did find Uber drivers outside, but none accepted to come; they were all slacking in their cabs. I requested so much, still they were like 'bhaiyaa kal se soya nhi hu mujhe sona hai' (brother, I haven't slept since yesterday, let me sleep) and some just nodded no," they added. The OP said he did find an auto with only 30 minutes to go for the train, but the driver said he had already come back from the station and that the route had too much traffic. Hence, it would be impossible to reach the station. "So, yes this is what happened with me today. Overpopulation sucks, government not being able to create an infrastructure to handle this population sucks, being away from home in another city to earn a living sucks!" Video: Delhi Restaurant Denies Entry To Couple For Indian Attire, Chief Minister Takes Note Social media divided Reacting to the OP's rant, some sympathised with him, while others told him to plan in advance, keeping such contingencies in mind. "I feel sorry for you bro. Rain has played the spoilsport today in Delhi NCR. Many areas are waterlogged and so many areas of Noida are even facing power cuts," said one user while another added: "Tbh OP, it is your fault too. It was raining since morning, and it is a festival season. You should have booked the cab in advance." A third commented: "In Delhi NCR you will find the least supportive environment. They all loot in the rainy season as well. Even if we consider this loot, they are non-supportive." A fourth said: "This is poor planning on your part. No use blaming the world for your stupidity. It's not like you didn't know it was raining since early morning. You could've left early."
