When the Ministry of External Affairs declared that a passport is “primarily a travel document and not proof of citizenship,” it did more than clarify a legal position—it ignited a storm of insecurity across the nation. Citizens who believed their passport was the ultimate credential suddenly found themselves bewildered. If Aadhaar is not proof, PAN is not proof, voter ID is not proof, and now passport is not proof, then what remains? What document anchors the identity of an Indian citizen?