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NEW DELHI: Around 1.75 lakh pilgrims will be able to go for Haj to Saudi Arabia as per the quota assigned to India by Saudi Arabia this year. The application process for Haj is yet to be opened through the dedicated online portal by the ministry of minority affairs. The first batch for Haj normally leaves in May or June depending on the schedule notified and shared along with the guidelines by authorities in Saudi Arabia.
Last year after a two year break due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Indian Muslim pilgrims were able to go for Haj. However, a limited quota of around 79,000 was assigned by Saudi Arabia amid the pandemic related precautionary restrictions. The authorities in Saudi Arabia had issued Covid-19 related guidelines for pilgrims to follow.
In a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha, minister for minority affairs Smriti Irani informed Parliament that the ministry has had a number of interactive sessions on Haj management with the stakeholders including Haj Committees of the states and Union Territories (UTs) wherein requests for restoration of Haj quota were received.
“The issue was addressed under the annual bilateral agreement with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) for Haj 2023 and inspite of challenges of Covid-19, the original Haj quota of the country 1,75,025 has been restored for Haj 2023,” the minister said in her reply.
She further stated that the quota earmarked for Haj Committee of India (HCoI) under the annual bilateral agreement is meant for pilgrims from various states and Union Territories for Haj 2023. “The increase in Haj quota has now enabled the government to send more pilgrims from states/UTs for Haj,” she added.
After a two year break due to the pandemic, in 2022 a little over 79,000 Indian Muslims went for Haj, and about 50% of them were women according to data shared by the ministry last year.
Last year after a two year break due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Indian Muslim pilgrims were able to go for Haj. However, a limited quota of around 79,000 was assigned by Saudi Arabia amid the pandemic related precautionary restrictions. The authorities in Saudi Arabia had issued Covid-19 related guidelines for pilgrims to follow.
In a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha, minister for minority affairs Smriti Irani informed Parliament that the ministry has had a number of interactive sessions on Haj management with the stakeholders including Haj Committees of the states and Union Territories (UTs) wherein requests for restoration of Haj quota were received.
“The issue was addressed under the annual bilateral agreement with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) for Haj 2023 and inspite of challenges of Covid-19, the original Haj quota of the country 1,75,025 has been restored for Haj 2023,” the minister said in her reply.
She further stated that the quota earmarked for Haj Committee of India (HCoI) under the annual bilateral agreement is meant for pilgrims from various states and Union Territories for Haj 2023. “The increase in Haj quota has now enabled the government to send more pilgrims from states/UTs for Haj,” she added.
After a two year break due to the pandemic, in 2022 a little over 79,000 Indian Muslims went for Haj, and about 50% of them were women according to data shared by the ministry last year.
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