New Delhi: The winter session of Parliament is going on. MP Kartikeya Sharma raised the issue of free visa for Indian citizens in the Rajya Sabha. He has urged Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh to increase the facilities of free visa and visa on arrival for Indian citizens.

Kartikeya Sharma asked important questions.

MP Kartikeya Sharma asked the Minister of State for External Affairs whether he would state what initiatives the government has taken to increase the number of countries that provide visa-free travel or visa-on-arrival facilities to Indian citizens. Replying to this, the Minister of State for External Affairs said that granting visa-free territory and visa-on-arrival facility to foreign nationals is a sovereign and unilateral decision of the recipient nation, and also depends on various factors including bilateral relations and the principle of reciprocity.

Kartikeya Sharma asked what has been the recent progress in bilateral agreements or negotiations with specific countries to facilitate visa-free travel for Indian tourists. It was replied that the Government of India is constantly making efforts to increase the number of countries that provide visa-free entry and visa on arrival to Indians to facilitate their travel across the world. This Ministry takes up the issue of easy and liberal visa procedures for Indian citizens at various levels in bilateral talks with other countries.

What is the plan for awareness?

The Rajya Sabha MP asked what plans the government has made to increase awareness among Indian citizens about the countries that allow visa-free travel and the associated travel benefit.? The External Affairs Minister replied that the details of countries that provide visa-free entry, visa on arrival, and e-visa facilities to Indian normal passport holders are published by the Ministry of External Affairs from time to time on its website at the following link www.mea.gov.in. Travel guidelines for Indians wishing to travel to a particular country are also made available on the website of the Indian Embassy/Consulate in that country.