Rijiju Clarifies Haj Quota Issue After Saudi Arabia Allows 10,000 More Indian Pilgrims:

Saudi Arabia's opening of the Nusuk portal—for an additional 10,000 Indian pilgrims—has reignited conversations around Haj politics, as concerns regarding India's private Haj quota remain unaddressed. Rijiju appears to be blending timelines with most operators to meet deadlines.

Rijiju has explained that the logistics of the pilgrimage are bound to Saudi Arabia’s regulations and timelines. Although the Hajj Committee of India and the Consulate General of India set all procedures to get all Logistical requirements like passport ready to send for 1,22,000 pilgrims on time, a significant number of private operators missed required contract and payment deadlines.

Pls don't play politics with religious Hajj issue.
Haj arrangements are done as per Saudi rules, regulations, and their timeliness. HCOI and CGI completed all the work for 1,22,000 pilgirms on time.
Unfortunately, the private operators could not finalise the contracts and make… https://t.co/9CwSdabtgX
— Kiren Rijiju (@KirenRijiju) April 17, 2025

Saudi Arabia’s Sympathy and Government Influence

Saudi Arabia responding to Indian government discussions as a special courtesy renewed the Nusuk portal. Its heartening Rijiju to all private pilgrims suggest using the newly granted space to conclude deals and document agreements to be nominated to sought documents.

The operators confirmed that most of the issues had nothing to do with a Saudi Arabia imposed quota reduction but all the changes were made due to the lack of action from the users, private operators. He expressed no doubt that Indian government services worked supporting the interest of pilgrims in hsaffected by these decision.

Challenges Experienced with Quota Distribution for Haj in India

India's Haj quota in 2025 included 1,75,025 pilgrims with 30% going to private operators and 70% to the Haj Committee of India. However, the majority of CHGOs did not meet the Saudi mandated timelines because of the delays caused due to Mina camps, accommodation transport, and other arrangement issues. Approximately 52,000 pilgrims dependent on private options faced issues due to these delays.

Haj Preparations Scheduled for January 2025

Rijiju’s trip to Saudi Arabia in January 2025 was to check if the Indian pilgrim arrangements were progressing as planned. His attendance at the Hajj and Umrah Conference included multi-level debates with Saudi officials at the top of Saudi govenment.

Tentatively the 2025 Haj is programmed around the dates 4th to 9th of June with the determining factor being the Zil-Hajj moon sighting.