The Ministry of Minority Affairs on Monday announced the Hajj Policy 2027, outlining a series of measures aimed at enhancing pilgrim services and streamlining the pilgrimage process.
Union Minister for Minority Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs, Kiren Rijiju, formally released the policy and announced the commencement of applications for Hajj-2027.
As per the official handout, the prospective pilgrims can submit their applications online through the Hajj Committee of India portal (hajcommittee.gov.in) and the Hajj Suvidha mobile application.
The government said the digital application process has been designed to make registration simpler, more accessible and transparent.
Under the new policy, the allocation of the Hajj quota between the Hajj Committee of India and private operators is expected to remain unchanged at a 70:30 ratio.
Of the total quota allotted to India last year, 1,22,518 seats were allocated to the Hajj Committee of India and 52,507 to the private sector.
The Centre, however, said it would continue efforts to secure an increase in India’s Hajj quota beyond last year’s total allocation of 1,75,025 pilgrims.
The policy was finalised following a Hajj review meeting chaired by Rijiju on June 18, during which the arrangements for Hajj-2026 were assessed and preparations for Hajj-2027 were approved.
The Ministry said the early release of the policy and opening of applications would facilitate timely planning in accordance with the schedule prescribed by the Saudi authorities.
Building on several pilgrim-centric initiatives introduced during Hajj-2026, the new policy seeks to further improve comfort, safety and convenience for pilgrims.
Measures introduced last year included sofa-cum-beds in Mina, high-speed train travel between Makkah and Madinah, hotel-style accommodation in Makkah and a 20-day Short Hajj Package.
The Indian Hajj Mission was also awarded two Labbaytum Awards by the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah in the category of “Best Hajj Coordination and Communication” for Hajj-2026.
Among the major reforms announced for Hajj-2027 is the enhancement of on-ground assistance through an improved State Hajj Inspector-to-pilgrim ratio, which has been revised from one inspector for every 150 pilgrims to one for every 135 pilgrims.
To address the growing waiting list, the policy provides preferential consideration to the top 20 per cent of applicants who remained on the final waiting list for Hajj-2026. The Short Hajj Package has also been retained, with Kolkata added as a new embarkation point following strong demand from the region.
The policy further aligns medical screening procedures with Saudi health guidelines and introduces stricter checks to ensure that individuals suffering from chronic medical conditions are not cleared for the pilgrimage, citing health and safety concerns.
In a significant push towards technology-driven management, the Ministry is planning to introduce artificial intelligence-based interventions across various stages of Hajj operations. These include AI-assisted application and document verification, demand forecasting for flight allocation and real-time grievance monitoring.
A key feature under consideration is a multilingual conversational AI assistant capable of providing round-the-clock support in Hindi, Urdu and other regional languages.
The system is expected to assist pilgrims with applications, payments, travel details, accommodation, baggage-related information and grievance redressal through voice and text-based interactions.
The Ministry said the proposed AI platform would reduce errors in applications, minimise dependence on intermediaries and improve access to accurate information, particularly for first-time and elderly pilgrims. Plans are also underway to integrate the system with Saudi Arabia’s Nusuk platform to enable seamless coordination and real-time information sharing throughout the pilgrimage.
Rijiju urged all eligible pilgrims to complete their applications within the stipulated timelines and directed the Hajj Committee of India and other concerned agencies to ensure a smooth, transparent and efficient application process.
He reiterated the government’s commitment to providing every Indian pilgrim with a safe, comfortable and dignified Hajj experience.
