Pvt Haj tour operators' quota for 10,000 pilgrims restored as govt seeks Saudi help

IANS April 15, 2025 152 views

The Indian government has successfully negotiated with Saudi authorities to reopen the Haj Portal for private tour operators after initial quota cancellation. By intervening diplomatically, the Minority Affairs Ministry secured an opportunity for 10,000 pilgrims to complete their documentation through the Nusuk Portal. Political leaders like Farooq Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti had raised concerns about the potential pilgrimage disruption. This resolution demonstrates the government's commitment to facilitating smooth Haj arrangements and expanding India's pilgrimage opportunities.

"Urge the Ministry of External Affairs to immediately intervene" - Mehbooba Mufti
New Delhi, April 15: With the intervention of the Indian government, the Saudi Haj Ministry has offered a lifeline to private Haj operators whose quota of sending about 10,000 pilgrims faced cancellation due to delayed documentation, an official said on Tuesday.

Key Points

1

Saudi Haj Ministry offers rare lifeline to Indian tour operators

2

Government secured special portal reopening for 10,000 pilgrims

3

Quota increased from 136,020 in 2014 to 175,025 in 2025

4

26 Combined Haj Group Operators impacted by documentation challenges

The Ministry of Minority Affairs (MoMA) said that the Saudi Haj Ministry, in a rare gesture, has agreed to re-open the Haj Portal (Nusuk Portal) to all Indian Combined Haj Group Operators (CHGOs) to complete their work with respect to 10,000 pilgrims.

The portal had been closed earlier as CHGOs, despite reminders, had failed to comply with the necessary timelines set by the Saudi authorities to finalise the mandatory contracts, including for Mina camps, accommodation, and transport of pilgrims, as required under the Saudi regulations.

The Minority Affairs Ministry has now issued directions to Haj group operators to avail of the special relaxation offered by the Saudi authorities and urgently complete the formalities on the Nusuk Portal.

The matter of ‘cancellation’ of private tour operators’ quota was raised by Former Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) Chief Minister and President of the ruling National Conference (NC) Dr Farooq Abdullah on Monday.

Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and President of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mehbooba Mufti also expressed concern over the development.

“Urge the Ministry of External Affairs to immediately intervene by taking up this matter with the Saudi government to seek a resolution”, she said on social media platform X.

The Minority Affairs Ministry said that due to the Indian Government’s efforts, the Haj quota allocation for India has increased from 136,020 in 2014 to 175,025 in 2025.

These quotas are finalised by the Saudi authorities closer to the time of the pilgrimage, it said.

The Ministry, through the Haj Committee of India, manages arrangements for the bulk of the quota allotted to India, which is 122,518 in the current year.

The balance of over 52,000 slots of the quota were allotted, as is customary, to private tour operators, said a statement.

Due to changes in Saudi guidelines, more than 800 Private Tour Operators were consolidated into 26 legal entities termed Combined Haj Group Operators (CHGOs), by the Ministry this year.

Addressing legal challenges, the Haj quota was allocated by the Ministry to these 26 CHGOs well in advance. However, despite reminders, they failed to comply with the necessary timelines set by the Saudi authorities and failed to finalise the mandatory contracts, including for Mina camps, accommodation, and transport of pilgrims.

The Saudi Haj Ministry later informed that due to delays, the available space in Mina became occupied.

However, due to the Indian Government’s intervention, the Saudi Haj Ministry has agreed to re-open the Haj Portal (Nusuk Portal) to all CHGOs to complete their work in respect of 10,000 pilgrims, said a statement.

Reader Comments

A
Aisha K.
Alhamdulillah! This is such a relief for thousands of pilgrims who had their dreams almost crushed. The government's intervention shows they care about the Hajj aspirations of Indian Muslims. May Allah accept everyone's Hajj this year 🙏
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Rajesh P.
While I'm happy for the pilgrims, the private operators need to be more professional. Missing deadlines when people's religious journeys are at stake is unacceptable. The government shouldn't have to bail them out every time.
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Fatima A.
My uncle was one of those affected! We were so worried when we heard the news yesterday. Thank you to the Indian government and Saudi authorities for finding a solution. The Hajj process is already so stressful, this would have been devastating for many families.
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Imran S.
Interesting to see how the quota has increased over the years - from 136k to 175k! That's significant progress. Also good that they consolidated 800 operators into 26 entities. Should make oversight easier.
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Sadia M.
Mashallah, this shows the strong relationship between India and Saudi Arabia. The Saudi authorities didn't have to reopen the portal but they did as a special gesture. May Allah bless all those involved in making this happen 💕
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Vikram J.
The Hajj process seems incredibly complex with all these contracts for Mina camps, transport etc. No wonder things get delayed. Maybe there should be more standardized packages to simplify things for operators and pilgrims alike.

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Tags:
Haj Pilgrimage Saudi Arabia Indian Haj Quota Minority Affairs Ministry Farooq Abdullah Mehbooba Mufti
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