STC NEWS MONITORING DESK
NEW DELHI, APRIL 15 (STC): Responding to the concerns raised over the cut in Hajj quota of private operators by the Saudi government, the Ministry of Minority Affairs in a statement has stated that the Government of India engaged with Saudi authorities at multiple levels to resolve the issue. The Saudi Haj Ministry has now agreed to re-open the Hajj portal for 10,000 pilgrims.
Giving details of the issue, the MoMA statement reads: “Due to updated Saudi norms, MoMA consolidated 800+ operators into 26 Combined Haj Group Operators (CHGOs), and allocated quota to them well in advance. However, the CHGOs failed to meet critical Saudi deadlines and could not finalize required contracts for Mina camps, accommodation, and transportation–despite repeated reminders.”
The ministry also mentioned that India engaged with the Saudi Arabian government on ministerial levels to secure accommodations.
The Saudi Haj Ministry raised concerns about pilgrims’ safety, especially in Mina, given the extreme heat and limited space.
The Saudi side informed that due to delays, Mina space was already occupied, and no deadline extensions would be given to any country this year,” as per the statement.
“Thanks to the Government’s intervention, the Saudi Hajj Ministry has agreed to re-open the Haj (Nusuk) Portal for CHGOs to accommodate 10,000 pilgrims, based on current availability in Mina,” said MoMA.
MoMA has issued urgent directions to CHGOs to complete their process without delay. “India remains appreciative of any further gesture from Saudi authorities to accommodate more pilgrims,” the statement said.
Remarkably, this year, Hajj is expected to take place between June 4 to June 9, 2025.
Meanwhile, in a post on X, the Ministry of Minority Affairs said, The Government of India accords high priority to facilitating the Hajj pilgrimage for Indian Muslims.
Due to sustained efforts, India’s Hajj quota has risen from 136,020 in 2014 to 175,025 in 2025–finalized annually by Saudi authorities.”
The Ministry of Minority Affairs (MoMA), through the Haj Committee of India, is managing arrangements for 122,518 pilgrims in the current year under the main quota.
All necessary preparations–flights, transport, Mina camps, accommodation, and services–were completed per Saudi guidelines,” ministry added.
The Ministry stated that the remaining quota was allotted to 26 Combined Haj Group Operators (CHGOs).
The remaining quota was allotted, as customary, to Private Tour Operators
(STC)