inlays. The actual transition to the new age passport is expected to commence on the successful completion of the tendering and procurement process. The Biometric E-Passport work is currently in progress/pipeline and is yet to be available for Ordinary Passport holders. During the 2022 Union budget of India speech, Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced that e-Passports with embedded chip and futuristic technology will be rolled out in 2022-23. It contains microchips that would have important security data stored in them, which enhances the convenience of citizens in their overseas travel. The Ministry of External Affairs has stated that the digital passport will allow greater security for personal data as well as smoother immigration process. Passport power and visa requirements Visa requirements for Indian citizens are administrative entry restrictions by the authorities of other states placed on citizens of India. Passport Power Ranking and visa-free travel , Henley Passport Index ranks Indian passport at 83rd place with visa-free or visa on arrival access to 60 nations and territories to Indian citizens. , The Passport Index ranks Indian passport at 69th place on global ranking with 72 mobility ranking (based on visa-free or visa on arrival access to nations or territories). Minister of State for External Affairs V. Muraleedharan in his reply to an unstarred question in Rajya Sabha in November 2019 stated that the rank of the Indian passport on the Henley Passport Index is expected to improve. Furthermore, Indian citizens may live and work freely in Nepal under the terms of the 1950 Indo-Nepal Treaty of Peace and Friendship. Foreign travel statistics According to the statistics these are the numbers of Indian visitors to various countries in 2017 (unless otherwise noted) Gallery of historic images See also Visa requirements for Indian citizens Visa policy of India Indian nationality law Overseas Citizenship of India The Passports Act References External links Passports by country Indian nationality law Identity documents of India