File photo of a Muslim Haj pilgrim being greeted by their relatives before leaving to Mecca, in Srinagar.
| Photo Credit: NISSAR AHMAD

The Union government on Tuesday (April 15, 2025) said the Saudi Haj Ministry has agreed to reopen the Haj Portal for private operators complete their work in respect of 10,000 pilgrims based on the current space availability in Mina, after its intervention.

The ministry’s statement comes after several Opposition leaders had voiced concern after the reported cancellation of over 52,000 Haj slots by Saudi Arabia for Indian pilgrims and urged the central government to take up the matter with their leadership.

In a statement released by the Ministry of Minority Affairs, the government said, despite reminders, the Combined Haj Group Operators had failed to comply with the necessary timelines set by the Saudi authorities resulting in lapse of seats allotted to private tour operators.

The Haj Committee of India under the minority affairs ministry looks after arrangements of 1,22,518 pilgrims, while 52,507 is allotted to private tour operators.

The Government of India accords high priority to facilitating the Haj pilgrimage for Indian Muslims. Due to sustained efforts, India’s Haj quota has risen from 136,020 in 2014 to 175,025 in 2025—finalized annually by Saudi authorities, said the ministry’s 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 MoMA 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, as required under the Saudi regulations,” the statement said.

The Government of India has been continuously engaging on this matter with the Saudi authorities concerned, including at the ministerial level, the statement said.

Even though the Saudi authorities have conveyed that they were not extending the timelines for any country this year, 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 based on the current space availability in Mina, the ministry said. Directions have been issued by the ministry to CHGOs to do so urgently, it added.