Haj Policy 2027 Announced; Applications Open for Pilgrims Through Portal and Mobile App

Ziraat Times News Desk

New Delhi, June 22: The Ministry of Minority Affairs on Monday announced the Haj Policy 2027, opening the application process for prospective pilgrims through the Haj Committee of India’s online portal and the Haj Suvidha mobile application.

Union Minister for Minority Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs, Kiren Rijiju, released the policy and said applications for Haj-2027 would be accepted from today through digital platforms to make the process simpler, more accessible and convenient for applicants.

Under the policy, the quota distribution between the Haj Committee of India and the private sector is expected to remain unchanged at a ratio of 70:30. Of the total allocation, 1,22,518 seats have been earmarked for the Haj Committee of India, while 52,507 seats will be allocated to private operators. The government has also indicated that it will seek an increase in India’s Haj quota, which stood at 1,75,025 pilgrims last year.

The announcement follows a Haj Review Meeting chaired by Rijiju on June 18, during which the performance of Haj-2026 was assessed and preparations for Haj-2027 finalised. The Ministry said the early release of the policy and commencement of applications were aimed at ensuring timely planning in accordance with schedules prescribed by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The new policy builds on several pilgrim-focused initiatives introduced during Haj-2026, including sofa-cum-bed facilities in Mina, high-speed train travel between Makkah and Madinah, hotel-style accommodation in Makkah and a 20-day Short Haj Package. The Ministry noted that the Indian Haj Mission received two Labbaytum Awards from the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah in the “Best Haj Coordination and Communication” category for Haj-2026.

Among the major reforms introduced for Haj-2027 is enhanced on-ground support for pilgrims. The ratio of State Haj Inspectors has been improved from one inspector for every 150 pilgrims to one for every 135 pilgrims. To address the growing waiting list, priority will be given to the top 20 per cent of final waitlisted applicants from Haj-2026.

The Short Haj Package, which was introduced last year, has been retained and expanded with the addition of Kolkata as an embarkation point following strong demand from the eastern region.

The policy also introduces stricter medical screening procedures aligned with Saudi health guidelines. Authorities said stronger checks would be carried out to ensure that individuals with chronic medical conditions are not cleared for travel, with the objective of safeguarding pilgrims’ health and safety.

A major focus of Haj Policy 2027 is the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into pilgrimage management. The Ministry plans to implement AI-assisted application and document verification, demand forecasting for flight allocation and real-time grievance monitoring and escalation.

Officials said a multilingual conversational AI platform is also being developed to provide round-the-clock support in Hindi, Urdu and major regional languages. The system is expected to assist pilgrims with applications, payments, travel arrangements, accommodation details, baggage information, grievance redressal and emergency support.

The Ministry further plans to integrate the system with Saudi Arabia’s Nusuk platform to enable seamless coordination between Indian and Saudi pilgrim services and ensure real-time access to information throughout the pilgrimage.

Rijiju urged all eligible pilgrims to submit their applications within the prescribed timelines and directed the Haj Committee of India and related agencies to ensure a transparent, efficient and smooth application process. He reiterated the government’s commitment to providing a safe, comfortable and dignified Haj experience for Indian pilgrims.