Haj Policy 2027 Announced, Applications Open for Indian Pilgrims

The Ministry of Minority Affairs has announced the Haj Policy 2027, with applications now open for Indian Muslims planning to perform Haj next year.

Union Minister for Minority Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju released the policy and said that the Haj Committee of India has started accepting applications from eligible pilgrims from today.

Applicants can submit their forms online through the official Haj Committee of India website, hajcommittee.gov.in, or through the Haj Suvidha App. The ministry said the online system is aimed at making the process easier, more flexible and more accessible for pilgrims across the country.

As per the policy, the quota distribution between the Haj Committee of India and private operators is expected to remain the same. Around 70 per cent of the quota will be handled by the Haj Committee of India, while 30 per cent will go to the private sector. This means 1,22,518 seats are expected under the Haj Committee of India and 52,507 seats under the private sector.

The government has also said that efforts will be made to increase India’s Haj quota. Last year, the quota for Indian pilgrims stood at 1,75,025.

The policy announcement comes after a Haj Review Meeting held on 18 June 2026, chaired by the Union Minister. During the meeting, the arrangements for Haj 2026 were reviewed and the roadmap for Haj 2027 was finalised.

The ministry said the early release of the policy and the opening of applications at the same time will help pilgrims prepare in advance and allow India to follow the timelines set by Saudi Arabia.

Haj Policy 2027 continues the ministry’s focus on making the pilgrimage safer, more comfortable and more dignified for every pilgrim. The government said several pilgrim friendly steps introduced during Haj 2026 will continue, including 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.

The Indian Haj Mission was also recognised by the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah with two Labbaytum Awards for Haj 2026 under the Best Haj Coordination and Communication category. This was the first time India received this distinction.

One of the important changes in the new policy is stronger support for pilgrims on the ground. The number of State Haj Inspectors will be increased by improving the ratio from one inspector for every 150 pilgrims to one inspector for every 135 pilgrims.

The policy also gives preference to the top 20 per cent of the final waitlisted applicants of Haj 2026, in order to address the growing waiting list in a fair manner.

The Short Haj Package, which received a good response in its first year, will also continue. Kolkata has now been added as an additional embarkation point due to strong demand from the region.

Medical screening will also be strengthened under the new policy. The ministry said the process will be aligned with Saudi medical guidelines, and stricter checks will be carried out to ensure that people with serious chronic medical conditions are not cleared for travel. The step has been taken in the interest of pilgrims’ health and safety.

The government is also working on the use of artificial intelligence to improve Haj management. These plans include AI assisted checking of applications and documents, better demand planning for flights from different embarkation points and real time tracking of grievances.

A major part of this technology push is a conversational AI assistance system for pilgrims. It is expected to provide support in Hindi, Urdu and major regional languages through voice and text.

The system is being designed to help pilgrims with the application process, payment details, flight information, accommodation, baggage rules, grievances and emergency support. The ministry said this will especially help first time and elderly pilgrims by reducing errors, avoiding rejection of forms and limiting dependence on intermediaries.

The government is also planning integration with the Saudi Nusuk platform so that pilgrim services from India and Saudi Arabia can work together smoothly and provide real time information throughout the journey.

Kiren Rijiju urged all eligible pilgrims to apply within the given timeline. He also directed the Haj Committee of India and all concerned agencies to ensure that the application process remains smooth, transparent and pilgrim friendly.

The minister said the Government of India remains committed to ensuring a safe, comfortable, transparent and dignified Haj experience for every Indian pilgrim.