India receives quota of over 1.75 lakh for 2027 Hajj pilgrimage

A bilateral agreement for the annual Hajj pilgrimage for 2027 was signed between India and Saudi Arabia on Monday. According to the Indian Consulate in Jeddah, under this agreement, 1,75,025 Indians will be permitted to undertake the annual holy pilgrimage.

Union Minister for Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju is currently on an official visit to Saudi Arabia. He held a bilateral meeting in Jeddah with Saudi Minister for Hajj and Umrah, Tawfiq bin Fahad Al Rabiah, following which the agreement was signed. According to the Consulate's statement, the ministers reviewed the ongoing preparations for Hajj-2027 and discussed measures to strengthen bilateral coordination and logistical support. Both sides reaffirmed their joint commitment to ensuring a safe, easy, and comfortable journey for Indian pilgrims.

Joint Secretary (Hajj) Mohammad Afzal was also accompanying Kiren Rijiju on this visit. Rijiju is on a visit to Saudi Arabia from 6 November to 9 November. On Monday, he attended the opening ceremony of the 6th Hajj Conference and Exhibition in Jeddah and also participated in the Ministerial Conference chaired by Al Rabiah. He praised the Saudi leadership's continuous commitment to the welfare of pilgrims and expressed New Delhi's commitment to close bilateral cooperation for Hajj 2027.

Rijiju stated in a post on the social media platform X that the objective of this visit is to strengthen the India-Saudi Arabia partnership and the shared commitment to the welfare of pilgrims and the successful conduct of Hajj-2027. During this visit, he also met with the Deputy Governor of Makkah region, Prince Saud bin Mishal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. He also participated in the Noor-e-Diwali celebrations at India House in Jeddah, where he interacted with Saudi friends and members of the Indian community residing in Western Saudi Arabia.

The Minister also held a review meeting with officials from the Indian Consulate, the Ministry of Minority Affairs, and the Haj Committee of India. According to data from the Ministry of Minority Affairs, India's Hajj quota has been increasing for years, which was 1,36,020 in 2014 and has become 1,75,025 for 2025. The quota has been maintained for this year and next year.

Hajj is the annual Islamic pilgrimage to the city of Makkah, which is mandatory once in a lifetime for all adult Muslims who are physically and financially capable. Saudi Arabia sets Hajj quotas for countries every year to regulate the number of pilgrims visiting the holy sites due to limited space and facilities at the sacred locations. This quota is generally allocated based on the Muslim population of each country.

Hajj takes place during the twelfth month of the Islamic calendar and includes a series of mandatory rituals lasting five to six days.