New Delhi: Union Minister for Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju chaired a review meeting on Haj 2026 and outlined the Haj 2027 roadmap at the Dr. Ambedkar International Centre in New Delhi. The meeting assessed the conduct of the pilgrimage and discussed preparations for the next Haj season.
Senior officials from several ministries, the Haj Committee of India, BISAG-N and other stakeholders attended the meeting. They reviewed operational arrangements, pilgrim welfare measures and future planning.
Rijiju expressed satisfaction over the successful conduct of Haj 2026. Around 1.75 lakh Indian pilgrims performed Haj during the season. He credited the achievement to coordinated efforts by government agencies, the Indian Haj Mission, State Haj Committees and Saudi authorities.
The minister also highlighted a major achievement for India during the pilgrimage season. The Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah conferred two Labbaytum Awards on the Indian Haj Mission for excellence in coordination and communication.
Haj 2026 introduced several pilgrim-focused initiatives. These included sofa-cum-beds in Mina, high-speed rail travel between Makkah and Madinah, hotel-style accommodation and a 20-day Short Haj Package.
Technology features in Haj 2027 roadmap
The meeting reviewed plans to expand the use of technology in pilgrimage management. Officials discussed artificial intelligence tools for multilingual support, document verification, flight allocation and grievance monitoring.
Furthermore, technology-driven reforms during Haj 2026 improved transparency and service delivery. Authorities integrated services with the Saudi Nusuk platform and strengthened digital grievance mechanisms.
Despite regional geopolitical challenges, authorities operated nearly 400 flights and maintained extensive transport and medical arrangements. Dedicated medical and administrative teams also assisted pilgrims throughout the season.
Rijiju directed all concerned agencies to begin preparations for Haj 2027 on priority. He asked stakeholders to focus on quota allocation, health requirements, air travel, accommodation, transportation and medical readiness.
In addition, the minister said India and Saudi Arabia would sign the bilateral agreement for Haj 2027 on November 7, 2026. He also indicated that the new Haj policy would be announced shortly, allowing an early start to the application process.
The minister reiterated the government’s commitment to ensuring a safe, transparent and dignified pilgrimage experience for every Indian pilgrim.
