India’s Haj Quota Crisis: Private Operators Miss Deadlines, Government Secures Relief for 10,000 Pilgrims:

Political tension rose as reports emerged that over 52,000 Indian pilgrims were affected by a major reduction in the country's private Haj quota. Many of the pilgrims had already completed payments, raising public concern and political backlash.

Government officials clarified that the issue was caused not by a Saudi decision to cut India's quota, but due to private tour operators failing to meet deadlines for logistical arrangements. These included contracts for accommodation, transportation, and Mina camp bookings.

Several political leaders voiced their concern. Farooq Abdullah appealed to the Prime Minister, urging him to leverage his relationship with the Saudi leadership. Omar Abdullah called on the External Affairs Minister to act swiftly. Mehbooba Mufti described the 80% cut in the private quota as deeply distressing and called for immediate diplomatic intervention. Congress leader Syed Naseer Hussain also stressed the need for a larger quota given India’s sizeable Muslim population.

The Ministry of Minority Affairs explained that the affected 52,507 slots were part of the total 1,75,025 Haj quota allocated to India. These slots were assigned to Combined Haj Group Operators (CHGOs), newly formed entities representing over 800 private operators.

The CHGOs reportedly missed multiple deadlines despite reminders, which led to the disqualification of their bookings. However, after diplomatic engagement, the Saudi authorities agreed to reopen the Nusuk Haj Portal, allowing arrangements for up to 10,000 pilgrims based on available capacity in Mina.

The ministry reaffirmed that the remaining 1,22,518 slots, managed by the Haj Committee of India, had been organized on time, including all necessary arrangements.

Saudi Arabia cited safety concerns due to extreme summer conditions and emphasized that no deadline extensions would be provided this year. Any further increase in pilgrim capacity will depend on Saudi discretion.

India's overall Haj quota has seen an increase over the years—from 1,36,020 in 2014 to 1,75,025 in 2025—due to continued diplomatic engagement. However, the incident has highlighted the need for greater accountability among private tour operators to ensure pilgrims are not placed at risk in future seasons.