NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday lauded the passage of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, in both the houses of Parliament, describing it as a “watershed moment”.
The contentious legislation cleared both houses of Parliament after extensive debates, with the Rajya Sabha passing it following a marathon 13-hour discussion. The bill received 128 votes in favor and 95 against in the upper house, while the Lok Sabha had earlier approved it with 288 supporting and 232 opposing votes.
In a post on X, PM Modi emphasised that the legislation would particularly benefit marginalized sections of society.
“The passage of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill and the Mussalman Wakf (Repeal) Bill by both Houses of Parliament marks a watershed moment in our collective quest for socio-economic justice, transparency and inclusive growth. This will particularly help those who have long remained on the margins, thus being denied both voice and opportunity,” he said.
The Prime Minister thanked parliamentarians for their participation in discussions and acknowledged public contributions to the Parliamentary committee.
“For decades, the Waqf system was synonymous with lack of transparency and accountability. This especially harmed the interests of Muslim women, poor Muslims, Pasmanda Muslims. The legislations passed by Parliament will boost transparency and also safeguard people’s rights,” PM Modi said.
“We will now enter an era where the framework will be more modern and sensitive to social justice. On a larger note, we remain committed to prioritising the dignity of every citizen. This is also how we build a stronger, more inclusive and more compassionate India,” he added.
The bill faced strong opposition from INDIA bloc parties, who labeled it “anti-Muslim” and “unconstitutional.” Opposition leaders, including those from Congress, TMC, DMK, and other parties, alleged that the legislation was designed to facilitate the takeover of Muslim properties for corporate interests.
Parliament also approved the complementary Mussalman Wakf (Repeal) Bill, 2025, during the same session.
The government defended the legislation as a “historic reform” aimed at benefiting the minority community and promoting inclusive growth. Modi emphasized that these changes would help build “a stronger, more inclusive and more compassionate India.”

Brics, a grouping of major developing countries consisting of Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates, is pivotal in shaping global sustainability and climate action, Amandeep Garg, additional secretary, ministry of environment, forest and climate change (MoEFCC), who was leading the Indian delegation, said.

“Collectively, we account for 47% of the world’s population and contribute approximately 36% of global GDP in purchasing power parity terms. By twenty fifty (2050), Brics nations will play a defining role in the energy sector, with 54% of global oil production, 53% of natural gas reserves, and 40% of coal reserves. Additionally, our influence over critical minerals and strategic metals will be vital in driving the global energy transition and advancing clean technologies,” Garg said in his intervention.

India underlined two issues of priority — finance for adaptation and delivery of Baku to Belem Roadmap to $1.3 trillion to ensure that the finances are in line with the requirements to accomplish nationally determined contributions of developing countries.

“There remains a significant gap between current adaptation levels and what is required. This year is critical for climate adaptation and resilience, as we anticipate the successful conclusion of the UAE-Belem Work Programme on Adaptation at COP30,” Garg said, adding that “a clear roadmap for the Global Goal on Adaptation backed by adequate means of implementation must be a key outcome of COP30, and Brics must work in unison to achieve this”.

“We must work together on Baku to Belem Roadmap to $1.3 trillion to ensure that the finances are in line with the requirements to accomplish NDCs,” he said.

In another session, India highlighted that the expansion of Brics from 5 to 11 members strengthens its leadership in global climate governance.

With Brics nations facing common environmental challenges such as desertification, pollution and biodiversity loss, India stressed the importance of collective action and shared responsibility.

India also stressed for continued collaboration among Brics nations at multilateral forums such as United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, United Nations Environment Assembly etc, and reiterated the principle of Common but Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities (CBDR-RC) as a fundamental guideline for climate negotiations.

On climate finance, India highlighted the urgent need for developed nations to fulfill their commitments, noting that the proposed $300 billion per year by 2035 under the New Collective Quantified Goal on Climate Finance is far below the required $1.3 trillion. India emphasized the importance of COP30, to be hosted in Brazil, as a critical milestone for advancing global adaptation and resilience efforts.

India’s intervention and the BRICS meeting is particularly important in view of the US’s Trump Administration’s decision to withdraw from Paris Agreement. US is the largest historical greenhouse gas emitter.

While the European Union is preparing retaliation, Japan is seeking exemptions and China has vowed countermeasures, India’s goal is to conclude a Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) with the US early, even as levies as high as 27% kick in next week, on top of existing tariffs.

With steelworkers and auto executives in attendance at the White House Rose Garden, Trump declared steep tariffs targeting friends and foes alike, the highest the US has seen in nearly a century. Starting at 10%, the so-called reciprocal tariffs soar to 54% in the case of China, igniting fears of a trade war that could redefine the world economy.

“Discussions between Indian and US trade teams are underway for a multi-sectoral Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) covering supply chain integration, investments and technology transfers,” a commerce ministry statement said.

While sectors such as engineering goods, seafood, agri-products, speciality chemicals and gems and jewellery are expected to face the brunt of the new tariffs, opportunities may open in others such as toys, textiles, leather and solar panels, while the pharma sector remains unaffected for now. The IT sector, though not directly affected by the tariffs, is expected to face the heat as uncertainty prompts clients to defer discretionary spending.

Fear street

Meanwhile, losses raced through world markets: The S&P 500 Index tumbled 4% and the tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 dropped by almost 5% shortly after the opening bell, wiping out some $3 trillion of stock-market value. Companies like Apple Inc., Nike Inc. and others dependent on overseas production sank. The dollar tumbled by the most in at least two decades as investors pulled back from the US, sending the euro, yen and Swiss franc surging. Oil fell on expectations that demand will drop, while Treasuries rallied. Indian markets closed 0.35% lower earlier in the day.

Tariffs are “a negative for global GDP, negative for India and Indian markets,” said Sanjiv Prasad, co-head (institutional equities) Kotak Institutional Equities. “This would lead to earnings downgrades, impacting sectors such as chemicals, engineering goods and even IT, because even though it’s a tax on goods imports, it will lead to slowdown in demand and eventually in corporate spends on IT. Even though pharma is exempt for now, it might not be for long. Some domestic focused businesses will be less affected but overall, it’s negative,” Prasad added.

Also read | Will India press for an early harvest in trade talks with US?

Goldman Sachs Group Inc., Bank of America Corp. and others warned that the tariffs, no matter the specifics, would deepen the selloff in equities. Fears of a recession in the US have been growing even before the latest tariffs. On 31 March, Goldman Sachs said it sees the probability of a recession in the US in the next 12 months to around 35%, double the earlier projection.

India will face an additional import duty of 27% in the US, slightly lower than its key trade competitors such as China (54%), Bangladesh (37%), Thailand (36%), Indonesia (32%) and other Asian countries. This offers India some temporary relief, particularly as it is increasingly viewed as a new destination under the ‘China Plus One’ policy followed by many global manufacturers.

Reaffirming India’s commitment to its strategic partnership with the US, the commerce ministry said trade ties remain a pillar of mutual prosperity. “The government is carefully assessing the impact of these tariffs and remains in close consultation with Indian industry and exporters. Keeping in view the vision of Viksit Bharat, we are studying the opportunities that may arise from this development while also ensuring that India’s economic interests are safeguarded,” the ministry said.

The latest Trump tariffs have left analysts scratching their heads about the impact on various sectors, given that details of the duties on different products are yet to be ascertained. According to a second person, a clearer picture on the impact and opportunities of the tariffs will emerge only by 9 April, when the US is expected to release a detailed list of tariffs.

Read this | Dal diplomacy: India’s import duty plans to spare the US, punish Canada

“Under the given tariff structure, we need to ensure that global companies don’t use India merely as a transit hub to ship goods to the US at lower duties than China, Bangladesh, Vietnam, and Thailand. Instead, they should invest in value addition by setting up production, creating jobs, and contributing to India’s economy,” said the first person mentioned above.

When Trump imposed 25% tariffs on steel and 10% on aluminium from India during his first term, India had responded with higher duties on American almonds, apples, and motorcycles.

Treaty focus

“The government is actively negotiating a BTA with the US, and discussions are progressing positively. The first round of in-person meetings with US negotiators has just concluded, and the next round of talks is scheduled to take place virtually,” said the second person.

Meanwhile, opposition leader Rahul Gandhi stepped into the debate, demanding clarity on the government’s strategy to counter what he called a major economic threat. Gandhi said in the Lok Sabha that the Trump tariffs would “devastate” the Indian economy. He accused the government of lacking a clear strategy, arguing the levies would severely impact Indian exporters across various sectors.

Some experts said the tariff war is an opportunity for India, particularly in textiles, toys, electronics and pharmaceuticals, where its rivals will now face higher tariffs.

Need for reforms

“The imposition of higher reciprocal tariffs by the US on several Asian countries, including China, Vietnam, Taiwan, Thailand, and Bangladesh, presents an opportunity for India to strengthen its position in global trade and manufacturing. However, gains will not accrue automatically. India needs deep reforms for enabling scale production, domestic value addition and improving competitiveness to benefit,” said Ajay Srivastava, founder, Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI).

Queries emailed to the ministries of commerce and external affairs and the PMO remained unanswered.

Though Trump had earlier repeatedly pointed to the high trade surpluses of countries such as China, Tuesday’s tariff shocker spared Ireland, despite a trade deficit of $89.2 billion in 2024, as well as Russia, Guyana, and Romania, all of which had trade deficits exceeding $1 billion. Meanwhile, Some nations with US trade surpluses, including Australia ($13.7 billion) and the UAE ($12.6 billion), were still subjected to the 10% base tariff. Others in this category include Argentina, Peru, Morocco, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, and the Dominican Republic.

Also read | Trump’s reciprocal tariffs: India braces for economic ripples

Several low-income nations faced unusually high tariffs despite having relatively small trade deficits. Botswana, with a trade deficit of $0.4 billion, was subjected to a 37% tariff. Myanmar, which had a $0.6 billion deficit, faced a 44% tariff, while Madagascar, with a $0.7 billion deficit, was hit with a 47% tariff.

While steel, aluminium, and auto-related goods will face a 25% duty, pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, copper, and energy products will remain exempt, as per the Factsheet released by White House on 2 April. Other Indian exports will be subject to an additional 10% tariff between 5 April and 8 April, increasing to a country-specific 27% from 9 April.

Target China

China remained Trump’s primary target, with tariffs on its exports rising to 54% on certain goods, including a 34% reciprocal tariff and an additional 20% already in place. Vietnam faces a 46% tariff, Taiwan 32%, Japan 24%, and Korea 25%. The European Union will see a reciprocal tariff of 20% imposed on its exports.

For India, textiles and garment exports stand to benefit as China and Bangladesh face tariffs of 54% and 37%, respectively. Indian manufacturers could attract investments and expand their market share in the US as global supply chains look to relocate operations to tariff-favourable countries.

“Despite the steep tariff hike for India, it appears to be an advantage for our apparel sector, as major competing countries like China, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Sri Lanka face even higher reciprocal tariffs from the U.S.,” said Mithileshwar Thakur, secretary general of Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC).

Also read | Trump’s tariffs brings Indian shrimps and basmati to a boil

“The current Trump tariff gives a tariff-based edge to Brazil, Turkey, and EU apparel exporters like Italy, Germany, and Spain. However, given India’s strong apparel sector, with a complete value chain and a diverse product range, I believe this will ultimately work in our favour. We should prepare to seize this opportunity,” said Thakur.

“The tariff impact on India’s economy is mixed. Indian steel exporters may struggle in the US market, but lower global steel prices could benefit construction, infrastructure, and automobiles. However, cheaper steel imports may hurt domestic producers, risking job losses and reduced investment. The government might need protective measures while balancing steel consumers’ interests,” said Harsh Bansal, managing director of BMW Industries, a steel processing company.

New avenues

The electronics and telecom sectors present another promising avenue. “With Vietnam (46%) and Thailand (36%) losing cost competitiveness due to steep US duties, India’s ongoing investments in electronics manufacturing, backed by the production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme, could position it as a major player in the global supply chain,” the GTRI founder said.

Sectors like machinery, automobiles, and toys, where China and Thailand currently lead, are also vulnerable to tariff-related relocation, as per experts. With strategic planning, India can attract foreign direct investment in these areas, scale up domestic production, and cater to markets like the US that are seeking alternate sources for imports, they said.

Read this | Indian equities, bonds, currency show resilience amid Trump’s tariff tantrum

India, whose largest trading partner is the US, exports a wide range of products, including metal ores, gemstones, electrical equipment, pharmaceuticals, and textiles. Sectors such as semiconductors, furniture, and rubber—while smaller in volume—are heavily reliant on US demand, with semiconductors being particularly exposed as 85% of India’s exports in this category are destined for the US.

India’s key exports to the US include garments, engineering goods, electronics, pharmaceuticals, and gems and jewellery. These sectors together accounted for 72.7% of the total goods trade between the two countries in FY24, contributing $56.34 billion out of the overall bilateral trade of $77.52 billion.

To be sure, India has revised tariffs on several US products to address trade concerns. The import duty on bourbon whiskey has been reduced from 150% to 100%. Tariffs on Harley-Davidson motorcycles have been lowered from 50% to 30%, and the duty on ethernet switches has been cut from 20% to 10%.

And read | Trump’s tariffs to shake up engineering and electronic goods exports

Cultural event performance at a stage set up in the venue of CPI(M) 24th party congress in Madurai on Wednesday, April 3, 2025.
| Photo Credit: ASHOK R

An improving China-India relationship serves the common interests of both countries and the region at a time the international landscape and world order are now in a new round of transformation, the Communist Party of China (CPC) said in its message to the 24th Congress of the CPI(M) taking place in Madurai.

“The CPC and the CPI(M) have long maintained friendly exchanges, which has played a significant role for facilitating mutual understanding and practical cooperation between our two sides,” read the message of the International Department, Central Committee, CPC.

The CPC said in the new circumstances it was ready to strengthen exchanges and strategic communication as well as experience sharing of party and state governance with the CPI(M) and other Indian political parties, so as to promote continued progress of China-India relations as well as peace and stability of the region.

One of the important aspects of the CPI(M) Congress in the past was visit of delegates from Communist countries and representatives from communist parties across the world. Their visit is no longer taking place. Instead the parties are sending their greetings, Communist parties from 34 countries have sent their messages.

Communist Party of Brazil (PCdoB) in its message pointed out that while the far right is gaining political ground worldwide, there is a growing resistance from peoples and nations against the hegemonic power of the declining U.S. imperialism. “Inter-imperialist contradictions are also intensifying, creating opportunities for the forces of national sovereignty, justice, and world peace to raise their banners,” said Ana Prestes, Secretary of International Relations of PCdoB.

She expressed the hope that the resolutions and guidelines resulting from the Congress debates would be of great value to our common fight against fascism, always with the goal of building socialism and communism on the horizon.

The Communist Party of Vietnam said the friendship and excellent cooperation between the two parties, the people of Vietnam and India as well as the State of Kerala and provinces of Vietnam would be further consolidated.

The Workers Party of Korea (DPRK) reiterated its conviction that the long-standing friendship and cooperation between the two parties would further develop in the future.

Jaishankar’s remarks appeared to be a riposte to Bangladesh interim government chief Muhammad Yunus’ effort to leverage the geographical isolation of the seven northeastern states while seeking Chinese investments for his country.

Addressing a meeting of foreign ministers of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (Bimstec) in Bangkok, Jaishankar emphasised the central role of India, especially its northeast, in forging transport and connectivity linkages. India, he said, is “aware of its special responsibility” in the context of Bimstec, having the longest coastline of 6,500 km in the Bay of Bengal and sharing borders with five members of the bloc.

“Our northeastern region in particular is emerging as a connectivity hub for the Bimstec, with a myriad network of roads, railways, waterways, grids and pipelines,” he said.

“Furthermore, the completion of the Trilateral Highway will connect India’s northeast all the way to the Pacific Ocean, a veritable game-changer. We are conscious that our cooperation and facilitation are an essential pre-requisite for the smooth flow of goods, services and people in this larger geography.”

With this geo-strategic factor in mind, India has devoted increased attention to strengthening Bimstec in the last decade. “We also believe that cooperation is an integrated outlook, not one subject to cherry-picking,” he said.

The Trilateral Highway was initially conceived as a link between India, Myanmar and Thailand. India later proposed extending it to Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam. However, the fighting in Myanmar has affected work on the project.

During a recent visit to China, Yunus focused on India’s northeast, which shares a nearly 1,600-km border with Bangladesh, while making a pitch for Chinese investments. “Seven states of India… called seven sisters, they are a landlocked region of India. They have no way to reach out to the ocean. We are the only guardian of the ocean for all this region,” he said.

“This opens up a huge possibility, this could be an extension of the Chinese economy,” Yunus said.

Yunus’ remarks were denounced by political leaders in the northeast at a time when India-Bangladesh relations are at a fresh low.

Jaishankar also said Bimstec should adopt a more ambitious approach at a time of global churn that is creating a new order which is more regional and agenda-specific.

He addressed the meeting, part of preparations for the Bimstec Summit on Friday, hours after US President Donald Trump unveiled his reciprocal tariffs, triggering concerns about spiralling trade wars. Five members of the grouping were hit by Trump’s “discounted reciprocal tariffs” – Sri Lanka and Myanmar (both 44%), Bangladesh (37%), Thailand (36%) and India (26%).

Without referring to the US tariffs, Jaishankar said the ministers were meeting in “very uncertain and volatile times”, when the global order is in churn. “This should encourage us to approach Bimstec from a more ambitious perspective. The new order, whose outlines have only now started to become visible, is intrinsically more regional and agenda-specific,” he said.

“The era when a few powers underwrote the international system is now behind us. What we make of our prospects is very much dependent on ourselves. As developing nations who face a multitude of challenges, that is better done in concert with each other than individually.”

Jaishankar pointed out that Bimstec members are performing below their potential in terms of trade, investment, connectivity or services between themselves. India not only connects most Bimstec members but also “provides much of the interface between the Indian subcontinent and Asean”, he said.

Jaishankar said that for India, Bimstec represents the trifecta of the “Act East” and “Neighbourhood First” policies and the MAHASAGAR or “Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions” outlook. “It is also on the pathway to our Indo-Pacific commitment. In order to promote Bimstec, what India is doing is to draw the best from all of them and then synergise that with our collective efforts,” he said.

Jaishankar suggested Bimstec members should deepen collaboration by focusing on the most visible convergence, such as grid connections, digital infrastructure, maritime and land transport, blue economy, and health, food and energy security.

At the same time, the grouping should address issues such as cyber security, counter-terrorism, human trafficking, illegal narcotics trade and associated activities. “We need to create the necessary frameworks to deal with them effectively,” he said.

The bloc must focus on larger challenges such as climate change, pandemics, natural disasters, financial crises and the ripple impacts of far-away conflicts, as well as the dangers of extremism, radicalisation and terrorism.

“The reality is that the world is moving to an era of self-help. Every region needs to look out for itself, whether it is in food, fuel and fertiliser supply, vaccines or speedy disaster response,” he said.

Since India stymied the activities of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) by pulling out of a summit to be hosted by Pakistan in 2016, it has focused on Bimstec – which includes Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand – as a platform for driving regional cooperation. A maritime cooperation agreement is expected to be signed during the Bimstec Summit in Bangkok on April 4.

Congress MP KC Venugopal speaks in the Lok Sabha during the budget session of the Parliament, in New Delhi on Wednesday.
| Photo Credit: Sansad TV

Congress MP K.C. Venugopal on Thursday (April 3, 2025) said India was witnessing a “systematic” erosion of freedom of speech and cited the example of the Malayalam movie L2: Empuraan which underwent voluntary cuts following protests.

Raising the matter during Zero Hour, Mr. Venugopal said this was an alarming crisis that threatens the very soul of Indian democracy. “The systematic erosion of freedom of speech is happening in our country. Whether it is in social media, movies or media”.

Parliament Budget Session Day 16 LIVE updates

In Kerala, we witnessed a serious attack on a movie named L2: Empuraan. “Why has that attack happened”?

“The film has got censorship certificate from the Censor Board where BJP leaders are sitting”. They (Censor Board) have given clearance for the film and the film had begun screening, but a systematic attack has happened on the actors, producers and directors of the film, the Alappuzha MP said.

“Now they have been forced to cut 24 parts in the film. Actually, it is a shame for the nation. After Censor Board gave the certificate, some people thought this is not good for them as that film narrates about Gujarat riots”, he said, adding, this was a systematic attack on the freedom of expression.

Mr. Venugopal claimed that whenever somebody is talking against the BJP or the government, they are threatened and come under attack. “This is going to ruin our democratic values”.

Following protests from right wing groups, the Malayalam movie was re-released in theatres with voluntary cuts that add up to 128 seconds of footage.

PM Modi Thailand & Sri Lanka Visit Live Updates: Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Thailand on Thursday to participate in the sixth Bimstec summit. Following this, he will travel to Sri Lanka for his first visit to the island nation since the election of its new president.

In his departure statement, Modi emphasized that Bimstec (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) has played a crucial role in advancing regional development, connectivity, and economic growth in the Bay of Bengal region over the past decade.

He also highlighted the strategic importance of India’s North Eastern region, which lies at the core of Bimstec due to its geographical positioning.

“I look forward to meeting the leaders of Bimstec nations and engaging in meaningful discussions to further strengthen our cooperation while keeping the interests of our people at the forefront,” he stated.

Stay with TOI for all the live updates

“It will be instructive to remember that 10% of the tariff imposition becomes effective from April 5 while 27% becomes applicable from April 9,” Biswajit Dhar, Professor and Head of the Centre for WTO Studies at the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, said.

The most impacted sectors on account of the US decision would be gems and jewellery, electronics and clothes, he said. “While Indian domestic sectors are protected from first-level effects, Indian textiles, electronics, and gems & jewellery exporters will be immediately impacted, as exporters will bear the brunt of the increased costs,” he told this reporter.

Could these impositions act as a catalyst for a manufacturing boom, as some experts seem to predict? According to Dhar, that’s easier said than done. He said that countries like Malaysia and Indonesia are possibly better positioned than India.

Also Read | Carefully examining implications of Trump’s tariffs announcement: Govt

“We may regain some lost ground in garments now that Bangladesh faces higher tariffs, but the reality is we’ve treated garments as a sunset sector and failed to invest. Without building capacity, how can we truly benefit from these tariff shifts?”

Even though agriculture will not be seriously impacted because India’s agriculture exports to the US are not substantial, the lack of investment even in this sector shows. “In a way, the US President is holding up a mirror to us. We’ve done little to invest in agriculture’s productive capacity. For now, buying time is the best strategy – maybe offering the US cheaper imports of industrial goods as a trade-off.”

In Dhar’s view, India’s agricultural challenges aren’t just external. Much of the sector’s struggles are “its own doing”. Smallholder farmers, owning over 85% of holdings, lack investment capacity, while the private sector shows little interest. Farming receives less than 6% of India’s total government and private infrastructure investment, leaving irrigation and storage facilities underfunded.

Also Read | Donald Trump’s reciprocal tariffs: How will they impact Indian exports?

So, what are India’s best choices at the moment? India will have to “play hardball. Basically, tell the US – we’re open to negotiations on other fronts,” Dhar points out.

Since February this year, India has ramped up efforts to win Trump’s favour – pledging $25bn in US energy imports, courting Washington as a top defence supplier and exploring F-35 fighter deals. To ease trade tensions, New Delhi scrapped the 6% digital ad tax, cut bourbon whiskey tariffs to 100% from 150% and slashed duties on luxury cars and solar cells.

Even as Elon Musk’s Starlink nears final approval, the two countries have launched extensive trade talks to narrow the US’s $45bn trade deficit with India.

Also Read | Global stock markets dive as Donald Trump’s reciprocal tariffs kick in, tech hit the worst

As Trump’s announcement during his ‘Liberation Day’ address revealed, none of it has been able to impress the US, as India braces up to assess its potential damage in the days ahead. What will be keenly watched is how it tackles its trade troubles with a strong political ally.

For the first time ever, a northern European country secured the No 1 spot in tax and immigration consultancy Nomad Capitalist’s annual index of the World’s Best Passports ranking. And the country to take the top spot in 2025 is Ireland.

According to CNBC, Nomad Capitalist’s pattern of analysing passports and their international strengths varies from other rankings that only value their visa-free travel strength. In today’s ever-changing world, the Nomad Passport Index tracks how each country’s passport evolves on a yearly basis. While observing how the global influence of countries is changing, it ranks them on the basis of five key factors: visa-free travel (50%), taxation (20%), global perception (10%), dual citizenship (10%), and personal freedom (10%).

Criteria evaluating world’s highest-ranking passport

For information on the Travel parameter, the index relied on government data from 199 passport-issuing countries and territories, plus real-time intelligence and proprietary research. It includes a MobilityScore, which measures ease of travel, and focuses on visa-free travel, visa on arrival and eTA and eVisa.

The Taxation criterion looked at data from tax vendors, news sources and tax authorities. Countries are assigned scores from 10 to 50. Here, 10 indicates that the country taxes citizens no matter they live. Score of 20 or 30 showed that the country allows citizens to relocate to avoid tax. 40 goes to those that don’t tax foreign incomes of resident citizens and 50 is for those with zero tax.

The Perception angle looked at the World Happiness Report, the Human Development Index and other subjective factors determining how each country’s citizens are received and recognised. The Dual Citizen table relied on embassy data and the company’s experiences to assess the ability to hold dual citizenship. Scores range from 10 (strictly forbidden) to 50 (feely allowed).

The Freedom side falls on data and news reports about mandatory military service, government surveillance, press freedom and other factors determining the personal freedom of citizens, travellers and expats. Scores again range from 10 to 50.

Ireland passport finally gets the edge

Evaluating 199 citizenships, the Nomad Capitalist Passport Index 2025 put Ireland on top with a ‘Nomad Passport Score’ of 109. Last year, it lost the lead to Switzerland. However, this time, the latter slipped to a joint 2nd rank shared with Greece (score: 108.5). In addition to this year’s victory, Ireland tied for the No 1 rank with Luxembourg and Sweden in 2020.

“Ireland shook up the rankings, thanks to the country’s strong international reputation, business-friendly tax policies, and overall citizenship flexibility,” Nomad Capitalist’s research associate Javier Correa shared with CNBC Travel.

“In a turbulent year marked by shifting geopolitics and policy upheaval, Greece surged dramatically from sixth into joint second with Switzerland, reflecting its growing credibility among high-net-worth individuals, retirees, and global investors,” according to a press release announcing this year’s index, i.e. the ninth edition of the list.

World’s strongest vs weakest passports 2025

Ireland has been praised as the world’s strongest passport of 2025, according Irish citizens “the right to live and work freely across the EU and, uniquely, in the UK,” per the index. In addition to Ireland’s top stance, other countries in the top 10 strongest passports list are: Switzerland (2nd), Greece (2nd), Portugal (4), Malta (5th), Italy (5th), Luxembourg (7th), Finland (7th), Norway (7th), United Arab Emirates (10th), New Zealand (10th) and Iceland (10th). For those wondering, the United States held the joint 45th rank alongside San Marino.

Meanwhile, Pakistan, Iraq, Eritrea, Yemen and Afghanistan sit at the bottom of the table as the weakest passport, ranking from 195 to 199. See the full list here: nomadcapitalist.com/nomad-passport-index/

Where does India passport stand?

India shared the 148th spot with Comoros, earning a total score of 47.5 (Taxation: 20, Perception: 20, Dual Citizenship: 20, Freedom: 20). Last year’s index, it sat one seat above, sharing the 147th rank with Mozambique.

Earlier this year, the Henley Passport Index, which is billed as the “original ranking,” showed that India dropped from the 80th to 85th rank in the world’s most powerful passports list. The 19-year-old index relies on International Air Transport Association (IATA) data.