India signs Haj agreement with Saudi Arabia, finalizes quota for 2025 pilgrims

NEW DELHI: India on Monday signed a Haj agreement with Saudi Arabia, securing a quota of 1,75,025 pilgrims for the year 2025. The agreement was signed by Union minister of minority affairs Kiren Rijiju and Saudi Arabia's Minister for Hajj and Umrah, Tawfiq Bin Fawzan Al-Rabiah, during a meeting in Jeddah.

Announcing the agreement, Rijiju said, “Haj Agreement 2025 signed with Tawfiq Bin Fawzan Al-Rabiah, Minister for Haj and Umrah of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Finalized a quota of 1,75,025 pilgrims from India for Haj 2025. We are committed to providing the best possible services to all our Haj pilgrims."

The minister also highlighted discussions on improving the pilgrimage experience for Indian pilgrims, saying the talks would further strengthen bilateral ties between the two nations.

Reacting to the development, Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed the agreement, calling it "wonderful news" for Indian pilgrims. "Our government is committed to ensuring improved pilgrimage experiences for devotees," Modi said in a post.

As per the Haj Policy 2025, issued on August 5, 2024, 30% of India’s total Haj quota, or 52,507 slots, will be allocated to private Haj Group Organizers (HGOs), while 70% will be handled by the Haj Committee of India (HCoI). Rijiju had previously stated that this distribution ratio has remained consistent in recent years, ensuring effective management of pilgrim services.