Pilgrim Centric initiatives and new facilities on board, the Ministry of Minority Affairs on Monday announced the Haj Policy 2027, with Union Minister Kiren Rijiju unveiling the policy and opening the application process for prospective pilgrims.
The policy was announced following a Haj Review Meeting chaired by Rijiju on June 18, during which the conduct of Haj 2026 was reviewed and the roadmap for Haj 2027 was finalised. The Ministry said the early release of the policy and simultaneous opening of applications are aimed at ensuring timely preparations in accordance with the schedule prescribed by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Rijiju has urged all eligible pilgrims to submit their applications within the prescribed timelines and directed the Haj Committee of India and other agencies to ensure a smooth and transparent application process. He reiterated the government’s commitment to providing a safe, comfortable, transparent and dignified Haj experience for every Indian pilgrim.
Making the process more accessible and convenient, the applicants can submit their Haj-2027 applications online through the Haj Committee of India portal and the Haj Suvidha App. The government said the quota distribution between the Haj Committee of India and private tour operators is expected to remain unchanged at a 70:30 ratio, with 1,22,518 seats allocated to the Haj Committee and 52,507 to the private sector. The Centre will also continue efforts to secure an increase in India’s Haj quota, which stood at 1,75,025 pilgrims last year.
Building on pilgrim-centric initiatives introduced during Haj 2026, the new policy seeks to make the pilgrimage safer, more comfortable and dignified. Features such as sofa-cum-beds in Mina, high-speed train travel between Makkah and Madinah, hotel-style accommodation in Makkah and the 20-day Short Haj Package will continue.
Among the major changes introduced for Haj 2027, the ratio of State Haj Inspectors to pilgrims has been improved from one inspector for every 150 pilgrims to one for every 135 pilgrims to strengthen on-ground assistance. Preference will also be given to the top 20 per cent of final waitlisted applicants from Haj 2026 in an effort to address the growing waiting list fairly.
The Short Haj Package, which received a positive response in its inaugural year, has been retained, with Kolkata added as a new embarkation point to cater to strong regional demand. The policy also aligns medical screening procedures with Saudi medical guidelines and introduces stricter checks to ensure that individuals with chronic medical conditions are not cleared for travel, prioritising pilgrim health and safety.
The Ministry is also planning to introduce artificial intelligence-based solutions to enhance Haj management. These include AI-assisted application and document verification, demand forecasting for flight allocation, and real-time grievance tracking and escalation.
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