India has opened registration for the 2027 Hajj season, with the decisive Qurrah selection draw scheduled for July 30, 2026. The Haj Committee of India (HCoI) will hold the computerised random selection at its Mumbai headquarters, and the process will be live-streamed on the committee website so applicants can follow the draw in real time. The move follows the unveiling of the Haj Policy 2027 by the Union Ministry of Minority Affairs, which introduces artificial-intelligence tools, tighter health screening and a stronger inspector-to-pilgrim ratio.
How the Qurrah selection works
Because applications routinely exceed the seats available, HCoI uses a Qurrah, or digital random selection, to allocate places fairly. The 2027 draw begins at 11:00 AM on July 30 in the committee room of the Haj Committee headquarters in Mumbai. Lists of provisionally selected and waitlisted applicants will then be published on the HCoI website, and applicants will also be notified by SMS.
Selection follows a fixed order of priority. Pilgrims aged 65 and above, including Ladies Without Mehram (LWM) in that age band, are placed first. They are followed by LWM aged 45 to 65, then the top 20 percent of applicants waitlisted from Haj 2026, and finally fresh general-category applicants for 2027.
Provisionally selected pilgrims must deposit the advance Haj amount of Rs 1,52,300 on or before August 10, 2026, to confirm their place. According to the committee, cancellations after selection are permitted only on grounds of death or serious illness, and other cancellations carry penalties.
Quota, embarkation points and packages
The distribution of India's Hajj quota remains unchanged at a 70:30 split between the Haj Committee of India and private Haj Group Organisers. That works out to 1,22,518 seats for HCoI and 52,507 for the private sector. The Ministry has said it will press Saudi Arabia to raise India's overall allocation, which stood at 1,75,025 last year.
For 2027 there will be 19 embarkation points across the country: Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Calicut, Chennai, Cochin, Delhi, Gaya, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Indore, Jaipur, Kannur, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, Nagpur, Patna, Srinagar and Vijayawada. Applicants must list two embarkation preferences in order of priority.
The Short Haj Package, a shorter 20-day option offered to up to 10,000 pilgrims, continues after a well-received first year and now adds Kolkata as an embarkation point. The standard duration of stay in Saudi Arabia ranges from roughly 40 to 45 days, depending on airline and Saudi scheduling.
Health screening and new technology
The Haj Policy 2027 introduces a two-step medical screening: one at the application stage and a second for selected pilgrims at the embarkation point. Severe cardiac, respiratory, liver or kidney disease, active cancer and certain infectious diseases such as open tuberculosis render an applicant ineligible. Every selected pilgrim must obtain a Health and Training (HAT) Card, carry a meningitis vaccination certificate and receive oral polio vaccine before travel.
On the technology side, the Ministry is improving the State Haj Inspector ratio from one inspector for every 150 pilgrims to one for every 135. It is also rolling out AI-assisted document verification, optimised flight allocation across embarkation points, and real-time grievance monitoring. A new conversational AI assistant is planned to answer pilgrim questions around the clock in Hindi, Urdu and major regional languages, from filling the application form to seeking emergency help.
Practical tips for applicants
Applicants should watch the Qurrah live stream on the HCoI website on July 30 and check for an SMS notification. Those who are selected should arrange the Rs 1,52,300 advance payment well before the August 10 deadline, since late payment forfeits the seat. Pilgrims are advised to complete the mandatory medical check-up early, familiarise themselves with the Haj Suvidha app for training and grievance support, and confirm both embarkation preferences carefully. Elderly applicants and Ladies Without Mehram should ensure companion arrangements meet the policy's age rules before travel.