Hyderabad: The Ministry of Minority Affairs has announced Haj Policy 2027 and opened the application process for prospective pilgrims. Union Minister Kiren Rijiju released the policy and directed the Haj Committee of India to begin accepting applications immediately.
Pilgrims can submit applications through the Haj Committee of India portal and the Haj Suvidha App. As a result, the process has become more accessible and convenient for applicants across the country.
The government plans to retain the existing quota distribution between the Haj Committee of India and private operators in a 70:30 ratio. Accordingly, the Haj Committee will receive 1,22,518 seats, while the private sector will get 52,507 seats. Meanwhile, the Centre will seek a higher quota from Saudi Arabia for Indian pilgrims.
The policy follows a review meeting chaired by Kiren Rijiju on June 18. During the meeting, officials reviewed Haj 2026 arrangements and finalised preparations for Haj 2027. Therefore, the ministry announced the policy early to meet Saudi timelines.
The Ministry said Haj Policy 2027 builds on several pilgrim-friendly initiatives introduced during Haj 2026. These measures included sofa-cum-beds in Mina, high-speed train travel between Makkah and Madinah, hotel-style accommodation and a Short Haj Package.
Haj Policy 2027 strengthens pilgrim support and technology use
The policy improves on-ground support by increasing the number of State Haj Inspectors. Now, one inspector will assist every 135 pilgrims instead of every 150 pilgrims.
Furthermore, the government will give preference to the top 20 percent of final waitlisted applicants from Haj 2026. This step aims to address the growing waiting list fairly. In addition, authorities have retained the Short Haj Package and added Kolkata as a new embarkation point.
The policy also introduces stricter medical screening. Consequently, officials will follow Saudi medical guidelines more closely and prevent individuals with serious chronic illnesses from travelling.
The Ministry is also exploring artificial intelligence tools to improve pilgrim management. These tools will assist with document verification, flight allocation and grievance monitoring. Moreover, officials plan to introduce an AI-based support system that will operate in Hindi, Urdu and major regional languages.
The proposed platform will guide pilgrims through applications, payments, travel details, accommodation and emergency assistance. Additionally, the ministry plans to integrate the system with Saudi Arabia’s Nusuk platform to provide seamless services throughout the pilgrimage.
Kiren Rijiju urged eligible pilgrims to apply within the prescribed deadlines. He also reiterated the government’s commitment to ensuring a safe, transparent and comfortable Haj experience for every Indian pilgrim.
