The Henley Passport Index ranks passports around the world based on how many destinations their holders can visit without obtaining a visa in advance. The latest report, released on July 22, 2025, shows that Asian countries still dominate the rankings, with Japan and South Korea tied in second place. India made the biggest improvement in the last six months, climbing eight spots by gaining visa-free access to two additional destinations.Singapore secured the top spot in the index, offering visa-free entry to 193 out of 227 destinations. The United Kingdom (UK) and United States (US) passports, once among the strongest in the world, have dropped in the 2025 rankings. The UK now ranks 6th, while the US has slipped to 10th, nearing the edge of the top ten for the first time in the index’s 20-year history.The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has shown the most significant improvement, jumping 34 spots from 42nd to 8th place, breaking into the top ten. In contrast, Afghanistan holds the world’s weakest passport, with visa-free access to just 25 destinations. This results in a staggering gap of 168 destinations between the strongest and weakest passports.<h3>What is the Henley Passport Index?</h3>The Henley Passport Index compares countries based on the visa-free access granted to their citizens. It evaluates 199 passports across 227 destinations, using exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA).If no visa is required, or if travellers can obtain a visa on arrival (VOA), an electronic travel authorisation (ETA), or a visitor pass, the passport scores 1 point. If a visa must be arranged in advance (including e-Visas), it scores 0 points.<h3>India’s Ranking in 2025</h3>The Indian passport has made significant progress, moving up from 85th to 77th place, now allowing visa-free travel to 59 countries.<h3>Top 10 Most Powerful Passports in 2025</h3>

Top 10 most powerful passports in 2025<figure class="table"><table><tbody><tr><td>Rank</td><td>Country’s Passport</td><td>Total Visa-Free Countries</td></tr><tr><td>1</td><td>Singapore</td><td>193</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>Japan</td><td>190</td></tr><tr><td>&nbsp;</td><td>South Korea</td><td>190</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>Denmark</td><td>189</td></tr><tr><td>&nbsp;</td><td>Finland</td><td>189</td></tr><tr><td>&nbsp;</td><td>France</td><td>189</td></tr><tr><td>&nbsp;</td><td>Germany</td><td>189</td></tr><tr><td>&nbsp;</td><td>Ireland</td><td>189</td></tr><tr><td>&nbsp;</td><td>Italy</td><td>189</td></tr><tr><td>&nbsp;</td><td>Spain</td><td>189</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>Austria</td><td>188</td></tr><tr><td>&nbsp;</td><td>Belgium</td><td>188</td></tr><tr><td>&nbsp;</td><td>Luxembourg</td><td>188</td></tr><tr><td>&nbsp;</td><td>Netherlands</td><td>188</td></tr><tr><td>&nbsp;</td><td>Norway</td><td>188</td></tr><tr><td>&nbsp;</td><td>Portugal</td><td>188</td></tr><tr><td>&nbsp;</td><td>Sweden</td><td>188</td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td>Greece</td><td>187</td></tr><tr><td>&nbsp;</td><td>New Zealand</td><td>187</td></tr><tr><td>&nbsp;</td><td>Switzerland</td><td>187</td></tr><tr><td>6</td><td>United Kingdom</td><td>186</td></tr><tr><td>7</td><td>Australia</td><td>185</td></tr><tr><td>&nbsp;</td><td>Czechia</td><td>185</td></tr><tr><td>&nbsp;</td><td>Hungary</td><td>185</td></tr><tr><td>&nbsp;</td><td>Malta</td><td>185</td></tr><tr><td>&nbsp;</td><td>Poland</td><td>185</td></tr><tr><td>8</td><td>Canada</td><td>184</td></tr><tr><td>&nbsp;</td><td>Estonia</td><td>184</td></tr><tr><td>&nbsp;</td><td>United Arab Emirates</td><td>184</td></tr><tr><td>9</td><td>Croatia</td><td>183</td></tr><tr><td>&nbsp;</td><td>Latvia</td><td>183</td></tr><tr><td>&nbsp;</td><td>Slovakia</td><td>183</td></tr><tr><td>&nbsp;</td><td>Slovenia</td><td>183</td></tr><tr><td>10</td><td>Iceland</td><td>182</td></tr><tr><td>&nbsp;</td><td>Lithuania</td><td>182</td></tr><tr><td>&nbsp;</td><td>United States</td><td>182</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>

Henley Passport Index: India made the biggest improvement in the last six months, climbing eight spots by adding two more visa-free destinations.

The Henley Passport Index ranks passports around the world based on how many destinations their holders can visit without obtaining a visa in advance. The latest report, released on July 22, 2025, shows that Asian countries still dominate the rankings, with Japan and South Korea tied in second place. India made the biggest improvement in the last six months, climbing eight spots by gaining visa-free access to two additional destinations. Singapore secured the top spot in the index, offering visa-free entry to 193 out of 227 destinations. The United Kingdom (UK) and United States (US) passports, once among the strongest in the world, have dropped in the 2025 rankings. The UK now ranks 6th, while the US has slipped to 10th, nearing the edge of the top ten for the first time in the index’s 20-year history. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has shown the most significant improvement, jumping 34 spots from 42nd to 8th place, breaking into the top ten. In contrast, Afghanistan holds the world’s weakest passport, with visa-free access to just 25 destinations. This results in a staggering gap of 168 destinations between the strongest and weakest passports. What is the Henley Passport Index? The Henley Passport Index compares countries based on the visa-free access granted to their citizens. It evaluates 199 passports across 227 destinations, using exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA). If no visa is required, or if travellers can obtain a visa on arrival (VOA), an electronic travel authorisation (ETA), or a visitor pass, the passport scores 1 point. If a visa must be arranged in advance (including e-Visas), it scores 0 points. India’s Ranking in 2025 The Indian passport has made significant progress, moving up from 85th to 77th place, now allowing visa-free travel to 59 countries. Top 10 Most Powerful Passports in 2025

Henley Passport Index: India made the biggest improvement in the last six months, climbing eight spots by adding two more visa-free destinations.

Henley Passport Index: Top 10 most powerful passports in 2025, check where India stands

Khelo India: Srinagar Hosts Water Sports Festival, Over 5,000 Athletes To Participate Across India | WION Dispatch


Khelo India: Srinagar Hosts Water Sports Festival, Over 5,000 Athletes To Participate Across India

India announces its plan for an indigenous 5th gen fighter, teaming up with France's Safran to build advanced engines at home. Only a few nations operate such jets. India is set to join the big league. A leap for Make in India, a boost for defence, and a bold statement to the world.


India's 5th generation fighter jet takes flight 

India announces its plan for an indigenous 5th gen fighter, teaming up with Safran to build advanced engines at home. 
Only a few nations operate such jets, India is set to join the big league. 
A leap for Make in India, a boost for defence, and a bold statement to the world.


Big announcement: India to build 5th gen fighter jet 

The Indian government officials said that India has not lifted the ban on TikTok, after media reports claimed that the popular Chinese social media platform appeared to be back for some users. “Government of India has not issued any unblocking order for TikTok. Any such statement/news is false and misleading,” official sources said on Friday (Aug 22).Earlier in the day, media reports citing some users said that they were able to access the TikTok website for the first time in five years. Although the website was accessible to some users, the application was still not available to users in India, said the reports.&nbsp;Clarifying the reports, officials said that TikTok's content is still not available in India.&nbsp;They said that while the landing page on the TikTok website earlier used to show that the service was not available in India, it was showing their "About Us" page. This does not mean its content is available in India, they added.&nbsp;&nbsp;TikTok, a massively popular video-sharing platform owned by the Chinese firm Bytedance, was banned in India in 2020 under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Not just TikTok, they also banned 58 other Chinese applications, citing concerns over data privacy and national security.&nbsp;

TikTok

When checked, TikTok's official website is available on both laptops and mobiles. However, some people are still not able to access it. This reflects that the app might be available to limited devices or is being tested.&nbsp;However, the application is still not available on the App Store of Apple and the Play Store of Google.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/tiktok-returns-in-us-thanks-trump-for-clarity-and-assurance-on-delaying-federal-ban-8635954">Also read: TikTok returns in US, thanks Trump for 'clarity' and assurance on delaying federal ban</a><h2>Why was TikTok banned in India?</h2>In the middle of India-China border tensions, New Delhi banned TikTok in India in June 2020. The government cited national security concerns and data privacy violations as the reasons. The main concern was that the app might be allowing the Chinese government to access Indian user data for surveillance of Indians or for spying on them.There was fear that TikTok was stealing Indian users' data and transmitting it to the Chinese government. The main reason behind this concern was that TikTok servers were located in China.To address the issue, the Ministry of Information Technology invoked its power under section 69A of the Information Technology Act, read with the relevant provisions of the Information Technology (Procedure and Safeguards for Blocking of Access of Information by Public) Rules 2009, and decided to block 59 apps.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/tiktok-ban-in-us-india-instagram-youtube-shorts-rednote-donald-trump-joe-biden-8630695">Also read: What's life post TikTok ban? Here's what US should learn from India</a>

The app, TikTok, was banned in India in 2020 under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Not just TikTok, they also banned 58 other Chinese applications, citing concerns over data privacy and national security.

The Indian government officials said that India has not lifted the ban on TikTok, after media reports claimed that the popular Chinese social media platform appeared to be back for some users. “Government of India has not issued any unblocking order for TikTok. Any such statement/news is false and misleading,” official sources said on Friday (Aug 22). Earlier in the day, media reports citing some users said that they were able to access the TikTok website for the first time in five years. Although the website was accessible to some users, the application was still not available to users in India, said the reports. Clarifying the reports, officials said that TikTok's content is still not available in India. They said that while the landing page on the TikTok website earlier used to show that the service was not available in India, it was showing their "About Us" page. This does not mean its content is available in India, they added. TikTok, a massively popular video-sharing platform owned by the Chinese firm Bytedance, was banned in India in 2020 under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Not just TikTok, they also banned 58 other Chinese applications, citing concerns over data privacy and national security.

TikTok was banned in India in 2020 by the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The government banned 58 other Chinese applications, citing concerns over data privacy and national security.

TikTok back in India? This is what Indian government said about banned Chinese-owned video sharing platform

Indian Test Captain Shubman Gill's brand value has increased significantly following the England Series, Gill now charges between ₹6-8cr for a brand deal.


Shubman Gill's brand value increases after England series 

The Supreme Court has modified its earlier August 11 order on stray dogs in Delhi-NCR. The bench stayed the blanket ban on releasing picked-up dogs, stating they must be vaccinated, dewormed, sterilised, and then released — except in cases of rabid or aggressive behaviour. Public feeding is now restricted to designated zones, and all states and UTs are now party to the case. What does this mean for civic bodies, animal lovers, and citizens?


Supreme Court modifies earlier directive, allows release of stray dogs after vaccination

Top Stories In India At This Hour: 

- Rajnath Singh: Munir Confessed Pak's Failure 
- Bihar: PM Modi Inaugurates Bridge
- Man sloganeering at Delhi CM's event arrested

Rajnath Singh: Munir Confessed Pak's Failure | Bihar: PM Modi Inaugurates Bridge | India At This Hour

Top Stories In India At This Hour: 

-Modi To Inaugurate Major Projects In Bihar 
-SC Stray Dogs Verdict Is Out

Modi to inaugurate major projects in bihar | sc stray dogs verdict

A major security lapse occurred at the Parliament complex early Friday morning, as a man breached the perimeter by scaling a wall using a tree. He reached near the Garud Gate of the new Parliament building before being apprehended by CISF personnel. The incident, which happened around 6:30 AM, has raised serious concerns about VIP security protocols in the high-security zone. The intruder is currently being questioned by Delhi Police and central agencies. Watch for more details on this developing story.

 Man enters parliament, jumps over wall | Security breached

The Supreme Court has modified its earlier August 11 order on stray dogs in Delhi-NCR. The bench stayed the blanket ban on releasing picked-up dogs, stating they must be vaccinated, dewormed, sterilised, and then released — except in cases of rabid or aggressive behaviour. Public feeding is now restricted to designated zones, and all states and UTs are now party to the case. What does this mean for civic bodies, animal lovers, and citizens?

India's Top-Court modifies order on stray dogs: 'No public feeding allowed'

White House Trade Adviser Peter Navarro has stirred controversy by praising India's diplomatic influence in the Ukraine-Russia conflict, stating that "the road to peace runs through New Delhi" and calling PM Narendra Modi "a great leader." However, Navarro also criticized India’s trade practices and continued oil trade with Russia, citing them as reasons behind the Trump administration’s decision to impose a 50% tariff and an unspecified penalty on Indian goods, effective August 27. The move has triggered debate over US-India ties amid growing global tensions.

Trump's trade advisor accuses India of 'cozying up to China' | Labels 'maharaja of tariff'

Trump's trade advisor calls India 'Maharaja of tariffs'

India’s GST panel has proposed a major relief for citizens — exempting health and life insurance premiums from the current 18% tax. The recommendation comes soon after Prime Minister Modi announced sweeping GST cuts to revive economic momentum amid trade tensions with the U.S. If approved by the GST Council in the upcoming meeting before Diwali, the move could lead to a revenue loss of ₹9,700 crore but ease financial burdens on millions of Indian families.

India’s GST 2.0 reforms push gains momentum

Bangladesh's Foreign Secretary Waker-Uz-Zaman has departed for Beijing to meet with senior Chinese officials. The high-level visit aims to strengthen diplomatic and economic ties between China and Bangladesh, with key discussions expected around trade, infrastructure, and regional security cooperation. The two countries continue to deepen their strategic partnership amid shifting regional dynamics.

China-Bangladesh visit: Waker-uz-Zaman departs to meet officials | Strengthening bilateral ties

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a rain alert for multiple states, including Delhi and Mumbai. Heavy to very heavy rainfall is expected till August 27, with cloudy skies and thundershowers predicted. Check the latest forecast, alerts, and air quality details.


India: IMD issues nationwide heavy rain alert across 26 states 

Supreme court orders action against street feeders, stray dogs to be sterilised and released 

In a shocking incident, a man attempted to scale the walls of the Indian Parliament on Friday (Aug 22), according to Delhi Police official. The man attempted to enter the Parliament with the help of a tree. The incident reportedly occurred at 6:30 AM near the Garuda Gate of the new Parliament building. The intruder was apprehended by the security personnel. He is currently being interrogated to determine his identity, intent, and how he managed to bypass the high-security area.&nbsp;Read More | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/parliament-monsoon-session-fiery-debate-expected-as-lok-sabha-takes-up-operation-sindoor-today-1753666101944">Parliament monsoon session: Fiery debate expected as Lok Sabha takes up Operation Sindoor today</a><h2>What exactly happened outside Indian Parliament?</h2>

The man who attempted to scale the wall of the Indian Parliament has been identified as a resident of the state of Uttar Pradesh. According to reports, personnel from the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) spotted him jumping over the wall near the Garuda Gate of the new Parliament building around 6:30 AM. He was immediately apprehended by security forces. Authorities confirmed that the man was not carrying any bag at the time of the incident. During interrogation, he has been behaving in a manner consistent with someone who may be mentally unstable.&nbsp;&nbsp;Read More | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/operation-mahadev-five-revelations-made-by-rajnath-singh-on-operation-sindhoor-in-parliament-1753696271311">Operation Mahadev: Five revelations made by Rajnath Singh on Operation Sindhoor in Parliament</a><h2>Security breach in 2023</h2>Earlier on December 13, 2023, a major security breach was reported when two intruders climbed from the visitor gallery into the Lok Sabha chamber during a session and released yellow smoke using canisters. The ongoing session was adjourned immediately amid chaos. Teh incident sent shockwaves as it happened on the 22nd anniversary of the 2001 Parliament attack that killed six Delhi Police personnel, two Parliament Security Service personnel, and a gardener. Simultaneously, two other individuals outside Parliament released coloured smoke while shouting slogans like "tanashahi nahi chalegi" (“dictatorship will not be allowed”). All four involved were detained. The incident highlighted severe loopholes in the security of the Parliament building.&nbsp;(This is a developing story)&nbsp;Read More | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indian-parliament-built-on-waqf-land-claims-aiudf-chief-badruddin-ajmal-768110">Indian Parliament built on Waqf land, claims AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal</a><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/india-vice-presidential-election-on-september-9-who-will-succeed-dhankhar-1755369864973/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/india-vice-presidential-election-on-september-9-who-will-succeed-dhankhar-1755369864973/embed</a>&nbsp;

A man tried to climb the wall of India's new Parliament building near Garuda Gate at 6:30 AM on Aug 22 using a tree. Security personnel quickly caught him. He is being interrogated to uncover his identity, motive, and how he breached the high-security zone.

In a shocking incident, a man attempted to scale the walls of the Indian Parliament on Friday (Aug 22), according to Delhi Police official. The man attempted to enter the Parliament with the help of a tree. The incident reportedly occurred at 6:30 AM near the Garuda Gate of the new Parliament building. The intruder was apprehended by the security personnel. He is currently being interrogated to determine his identity, intent, and how he managed to bypass the high-security area. Read More | Parliament monsoon session: Fiery debate expected as Lok Sabha takes up Operation Sindoor today What exactly happened outside Indian Parliament?

A man tried to climb the wall of India's new Parliament building near Garuda Gate at 6:30 AM on Aug 22 using a tree. Security personnel quickly caught him. He is being interrogated to uncover his identity, motive, and how he breached the high-security zone.

Security breach in Indian Parliament: Man tries to scale wall, caught by security personnel - What we know so far

NDA, I.N.D.I.A Block Candidates File Nominations, setting the stage for a major political showdown. How is the race progressing and what does it mean for India's future?

India's next Vice-President: NDA, I.N.D.I.A block candidates file nominations

Actor-politician Vijay, who is trying to push forward his party Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) as a third front in Tamil Nadu, announced that he would contest the assembly polls from Madurai East.


India: Actor-turned-politician Vijay rules out alliance 

External affairs minister S Jaishankar on Thursday said that India was not the biggest importer of Russian oil and expressed that he was "perplexed" as New Delhi's purchase of oil from the US had in fact increased.


EAM: China, EU are bigger purchasers of Russian energy than India

ISRO spotted a dangerous crack in the Falcon-9’s oxidiser line just hours before lift-off. Their demand for full repair and testing delayed the launch but saved lives. Shubhanshu Shukla’s mission succeeded only because India insisted on safety.


ISRO detected a critical fuel leak SpaceX missed

On the final day of his Moscow visit, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar pushed for deeper India-Russia trade and investment ties. Addressing a business forum, Jaishankar urged Russian companies to partner with Indian firms in sectors ranging from energy to technology.


S Jaishankar meets Putin as Trump imposed 50% tariffs on Indian goods 

The ban on online money games in India is set to hit the country's sports industry as well. The move could significantly effect the cricketing ecosystem and also hit franchise leagues of other sports.


What is the BCCI sponsorship jinx?

The Indian Sports Ministry has released a statement, saying India-Pakistan matches at multi-team tournaments will go ahead, thereby paving the way for the Asia Cup clash next month.


India-Pakistan Asia Cup clash to go ahead after Sports Ministry statement

India-Russia ties: EAM calls on Russian companies to partner with Indian firms 

India’s Ministry of External Affairs has firmly rejected Nepal’s objections to the resumption of border trade with China via the Lipulekh Pass, calling Kathmandu’s territorial claims “untenable” and “not based on historical facts and evidence.” 

Despite dismissing Nepal’s claims, India reiterated its willingness to resolve the boundary issue through constructive dialogue and diplomacy.

India strongly rejects Nepal’s objection over Lipulekh trade route dispute

The Indian Meteorological Department has issued forecasts of widespread rainfall across the country over the coming days, driven by multiple active monsoon systems.

India faces heavy rains, flooding & landslides | Delhi to Mumbai on alert

EAM Jaishankar wraps up Moscow visit, calls for stronger India-Russia trade ties

India’s External Affairs Minister is set to meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to discuss strengthening bilateral ties. The meeting underscores New Delhi’s focus on strategic cooperation with Moscow. Watch to know more on this!


India, Russia ties: EAM to meet Russian counterpart Lavrov next 

Cindy Rodriguez Singh has been arrested for the alleged murder of her 6-year-old son. Cindy was wanted since 2023 and was FBI's '10th most wanted' fugitive arrested in the last 7 months. Watch to know more on this!


Cindy Rodriguez Singh, arrested for alleged murder of 6-old son

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