Context: The Henley Passport Index 2021 has just introduced the passport ranking of countries, including a list of the most powerful passports in the world. Using the exclusive data provided by the International Air Transport Authority (IATA), the report studied 199 passports and 227 tourist places.   
About the report

• The Henley Passport Index 2021 has been released by Henley & Partners, based on the exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA). 
• As per the latest report, India has been ranked 85th among 110 countries, in the Henley Passport Index for 2021, with a visa-free score of 58. 
• The index presents the original ranking of the world’s most powerful passports, according to the number of destinations their holders can access without a prior visa.
• The report periodically updates the list of the most travel-friendly passports in the world.
• This year, it is the Asia-Pacific (APAC) passports which are the most powerful in the world. The result was derived using the mobility score of passports that decides the number of countries a passport holder can travel visa-free or get a visa on arrival. 

Top Rank Holders

• Japan continues to hold the number one position on the index, with passport holders able to access 191 destinations around the world visa-free.
• Singapore is in second place (with a score of 190) and South Korea ties with Germany in third place (with a score of 189).
• The top spots were traditionally held by EU countries, the UK, or the US. This year, it is the Asia-Pacific (APAC) passports which are the most powerful in the world as it includes some of the first countries to begin the process of recovering from the Covid-19 pandemic.

Bottom Rank Holders

• Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan continue to be the countries with the worst passport to hold with a passport score of 29, 28 and 26 respectively.

India’s Performance

• India ranks 85th, with a visa-free score of 58.
• The Indian passport ranked higher in both 2020 (84th) and 2019 (82nd).

Comparison with Neighbouring Countries

• Pakistan was ranked 107th and Nepal was ranked 104th.

Related Government Initiatives

• The government has been making efforts to increase the number of countries that provide visa free travel, visa-on-arrival and e-visa facilities so as to further ease international travel for Indians.
• While issuance of visa and visa related process is the sovereign and unilateral decision of the respective country, the matter regarding easier and liberalised visa policy for Indian nationals is taken up regularly in bilateral meetings and forums with foreign countries.