A pocket-sized booklet of 36 or 60 pages. The national emblem printed in gold in the centre of a navy blue, white, or maroon cover made of a heavy-duty fabric-based material. The first page identifies the holder - their name and their nationality. This is the passport and till now many believed it recognised the holder as an Indian citizen. But now the government has said it doesn't, not legally anyway, and this has stirred up a hornet's nest over its purpose, legal and in common practice.