In a significant development for Indian Muslims intending to undertake the Hajj pilgrimage in 2025, Saudi Arabia has agreed to accommodate an additional 10,000 pilgrims from India. This move comes after prolonged diplomatic engagement by the Union Government, following growing concerns over a massive slash in the quota for private pilgrims.

The Ministry of Minority Affairs (MoMA) revealed the development on April 15, crediting the Union Government’s intervention at ministerial levels with Saudi authorities. This breakthrough offers a sigh of relief to thousands of pilgrims who were left in limbo due to administrative lapses by private operators.

What Triggered the Quota Crisis?

The crisis originated from new Hajj regulations issued by Saudi Arabia, which involved restructuring Mina zones—a key stop during the Hajj journey. Due to these changes, the zones earlier allocated to Indian private tour operators were cancelled, putting the fate of over 52,000 Indian pilgrims at risk.

The Ministry of Minority Affairs held private tour operators accountable, citing their failure to meet critical deadlines and incomplete contract obligations for accommodation, Mina camps, and transportation as per Saudi requirements.

Despite being allocated their quotas well in advance, the newly formed 26 Combined Haj Group Operators (CHGOs)—a consolidation of 800 smaller private operators—missed several mandatory deadlines laid out by Saudi Arabia. This lapse forced Saudi authorities to cancel the allocation, causing widespread anxiety and criticism.

Political Leaders Rally for Pilgrim Rights

The issue quickly became a matter of public concern. Several political leaders from across India, including:

• MK Stalin, Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu

• Omar Abdullah, Jammu and Kashmir National Conference leader

• Mehbooba Mufti, Chief of the People's Democratic Party (PDP)

... urged the Ministry of External Affairs to step in and mediate with the Saudi government. They stressed that thousands of pilgrims had already paid and prepared for the pilgrimage and that the disruption had caused immense emotional and financial distress.

Saudi Arabia Reopens Nusuk Portal

Following intense engagement with Saudi officials, the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah agreed to reopen the Nusuk Portal, the official system for Hajj processing. The portal is now temporarily accessible to all CHGOs to complete formalities for 10,000 additional Indian pilgrims, based on available space in Mina.

This reopening of the portal marks a rare exception and indicates the strong diplomatic relationship between India and Saudi Arabia, as well as the importance placed by the Indian government on facilitating religious duties for its Muslim citizens.

India’s Hajj Quota Journey Over the Years

India’s Hajj quota has steadily increased over the years:

• 2014: 136,020

• 2025: 175,025

For 2025, the Haj Committee of India is handling 122,518 pilgrims, while the rest were supposed to be covered by private tour operators.

According to the ministry, all government-related arrangements—including flight schedules, Mina camps, transportation, and accommodation—have been executed as per the Saudi government's guidelines.

The Private Tour Operator Challenge

While the central government has fulfilled its responsibilities, the CHGOs struggled to adapt to the new Saudi regulations. Their key failures included:

• Inability to finalize mandatory contracts

• Delay in submitting required documentation

• Non-compliance with the timeline for Mina camp allocations

The Ministry stated that multiple reminders were sent to these private groups, but they still failed to take the required actions.

Saudi Arabia’s Visa and Travel Restrictions for Hajj 2025

In addition to quota-related changes, Saudi Arabia has imposed new travel restrictions for Hajj 2025. Reports indicate that the issuance of certain types of visas has been suspended for nationals of 14 countries, including:

• India

• Pakistan

• Bangladesh

However, it is critical to note that this does not affect pilgrims with approved Hajj visas. The suspension applies only to non-Hajj visa holders, to prevent people from entering Saudi Arabia unofficially for the pilgrimage and to ensure better crowd control.

When is Hajj 2025?

Hajj 2025 is expected to be held from June 4 to June 9, depending on moon sighting that signals the beginning of Zil-Hajj, the twelfth month in the Islamic calendar. Pilgrims from India are likely to start their journey as early as late April 2025.

The five-day religious pilgrimage involves key rituals in Mecca and Medina, with a major stop at Mina, where the tent city is set up for millions of pilgrims.

What the Government Has Achieved

Through strong diplomatic negotiation and coordination between ministries, the Indian government has achieved the following:

• Recovered 10,000 lost slots for pilgrims

• Secured reopening of the Saudi Hajj Portal for private operators

• Ensured Indian pilgrims are not impacted by general visa restrictions

• Maintained India’s highest-ever quota of 175,025 pilgrims for 2025

Final Thoughts

The Hajj pilgrimage is of immense spiritual significance to Indian Muslims. While the Haj Committee of India continues to manage the bulk of the national quota smoothly, the private operator ecosystem still faces serious challenges in compliance and coordination.

The Ministry of Minority Affairs’ timely intervention has helped prevent a humanitarian and diplomatic setback. However, going forward, there is a need for stricter accountability measures for CHGOs to avoid future disruption.

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