https://p.dw.com/p/5Galz
What you need to know
Here is a roundup of some of the top headlines that had India talking on Sunday, July 4:
- Travel freedom remains India’s biggest challenge as Indians would still need visa to enter around 88 countries
- Despite slipping in rank, India’s overall passport score has improved
Tired of missing our real-time updates? Click here to add us as a Preferred at the top of your feed
Skip next section Thank you for readingJuly 5, 2026
Thank you for reading
We are closing the blog for today. We will be back tomorrow!
https://p.dw.com/p/5Gb83
Skip next section India withdraws gas curbs as Middle East LNG shipments resumeJuly 5, 2026
India withdraws gas curbs as Middle East LNG shipments resume
Wesley DockeryEditor
The Indian government has withdrawn most emergency curbs on natural gas supplies after liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipments through the Strait of Hormuz resumed following a ceasefire in the Middle East conflict
India in March had invoked emergency measures to divert gas supplies from non-priority sectors to key users after the disruption of LNG shipments through the Strait of Hormuz
The ministry said the situation has stabilized since March with a ceasefire in place, negotiations underway and maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz resuming, according to a report by Indian newspaper The New Indian Express
India’s LPG crisis forces migrant workers to return home
The withdrawal marks the end of one of three emergency measures introduced after energy supplies from the Gulf came under threat following US and Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28 and Tehran’s retaliatory attacks
The government had already withdrawn its orders that required refiners to maximise LPG production by diverting petrochemical feedstock and restrictions on diesel sales to bulk consumers as supply conditions improved
https://p.dw.com/p/5Gb4u
Skip next section Mumbai on red alert as heavy rain wreaks havocJuly 5, 2026
Mumbai on red alert as heavy rain wreaks havoc
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for Mumbai on Sunday, warning of extreme heavy rainfall
In view of the forecast, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) appealed to residents to remain alert and step outdoors only if absolutely necessary
Heavy rain continued to batter Mumbai and neighbouring regions through the night before easing slightly by Sunday morning. The weather agency has also predicted occasional gusty winds of 55-65 kmph over the city and suburbs
Public transport services, including Metro and BEST buses, were operating normally on Sunday morning. However, commuters reported delays in suburban train services
The BMC urged citizens to strictly follow official advisories. It also advised people to exercise caution in low-lying areas and along the coastline
https://p.dw.com/p/5Gaww
Skip next section India ranks 125th on global passport indexJuly 5, 2026
India ranks 125th on global passport index
India has slipped to 125th in the Global Passport Index (GPI) 2026, remaining outside the top 100 despite a marginal improvement last year
After climbing to 124th in 2025 from 127th between 2021 and 2023, the country has once again lost ground and now offers visa-free access to just 26 destinations
India is now placed just behind Namibia, which ranks 124th, while Azerbaijan follows at 126th
Indian passport holders can travel visa-free or obtain a visa on arrival in destinations including Bhutan, Nepal, Jamaica, Macau, Palestine, Tunisia, Angola and Barbados. However, they still require a visa to enter around 88 countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, China and the UAE
While India’s rank has slipped, the GPI shows that India’s overall passport score has reached its highest level in the past five years
The report points out that India’s overall passport score has improved to 45.1, its highest since the index began tracking the country in 2021
Rankings only focus on the number of countries a passport can enter without a visa, the Global Passport Index looks at a much wider picture. It measures passports based on three main factors: travel freedom, investment opportunities, and quality of life, to judge how valuable a passport is for its holder
https://p.dw.com/p/5Gan5
Skip next section Welcome to our coverageJuly 5, 2026
Welcome to our coverage
Good morning! This is Midhat from the New Delhi Bureau, bringing you the latest developments from across India
The capital has woken up to a rainy day, bringing much-needed respite from the stuffy afternoons and evenings. India’s financial capital, Mumbai, is on red alert as heavy Monsoon rains battered the city through the night.
The morning also brought the unwelcome news of the Indian passport slipping even further down the global passport rankings
Meanwhile, there’s some relief as India resumed supply of liquefied natural gas from the Middle East
Stay tuned as we bring you all this and more.
https://p.dw.com/p/5Gam0
Show more posts
