<h1>India lacks resident missions in 41 countries; committee urges expedited openings, higher MEA budget and passport-CCTNS integration.</h1> The parliamentary committee reported absence of resident missions in 41 countries, noted reliance on concurrent accreditation and honorary consuls, and urged the MEA to expedite operationalisation of five approved missions in Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean to increase India's diplomatic footprint; it also recommended a 20% increase in MEA budget allocation and integration of the Passport Seva Programme with the CCTNS database to enhance security and verification.