India has announced its Haj Policy 2027, opening applications for prospective pilgrims months ahead of the pilgrimage and pledging wider use of artificial intelligence to guide applicants. Union Minister of Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju unveiled the policy on June 22, 2026, with the online window closing on July 20. The early rollout, the ministry said, reflects a commitment to timely preparation and to the deadlines set by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Applications were accepted through the Haj Committee of India portal at hajcommittee.gov.in and through the Haj Suvidha App. The announcement followed a Haj Review Meeting chaired by Rijiju on June 18, where officials assessed the conduct of Haj 2026 and finalised the roadmap for the next season.
Quota and application framework
The quota split between the Haj Committee of India and private operators remains unchanged at 70:30. Under this distribution, 122,518 seats are allocated to the Haj Committee of India and 52,507 seats to private tour operators. The government has indicated it will press Saudi authorities to raise the overall allocation, which stood at 175,025 last year.
To manage the waiting list fairly, preference will be given to the top 20 per cent of final waitlisted applicants from Haj 2026. The State Haj Inspector ratio has also been revised, moving from one inspector for every 150 pilgrims to one for every 135, a change intended to strengthen on-ground support during the pilgrimage.
The Short Haj Package, a roughly 20-day option introduced last year, will continue after strong demand in its first season. Kolkata has been added as a new embarkation point, expanding the list of departure cities for pilgrims.
Technology and medical screening
The ministry placed heavy emphasis on technology-driven services. Planned measures include artificial intelligence to assist with application and document verification, demand modelling for flight allocation, and real-time grievance tracking. A conversational AI assistant is envisaged to offer round-the-clock support in Hindi, Urdu and major regional languages, guiding pilgrims through applications, payments, flights, accommodation, baggage and emergencies.
According to the ministry, integration with the Saudi Nusuk platform is planned to ensure coordination between Indian and Saudi systems. Medical screening will be aligned with Saudi guidelines. Officials confirmed that individuals with chronic medical conditions that make travel unsafe will not be cleared, a measure the ministry framed as prioritising pilgrim health and safety.
The policy builds on reforms from Haj 2026, which included sofa-cum-beds in Mina, high-speed train travel between Makkah and Madinah, and hotel-style accommodation in Makkah. The Indian Haj Mission received two Labbaytum Awards from the Saudi Ministry of Haj and Umrah in the "Best Haj Coordination and Communication" category, the first time India earned the distinction.
What pilgrims should keep in mind
Prospective pilgrims who applied should confirm their submission status on the Haj Committee portal or the Haj Suvidha App and keep application receipts safe. Those considering the Short Haj Package should review its shorter duration and fixed itinerary before committing. Applicants with chronic health conditions should arrange medical assessments early, as clearance now follows stricter Saudi-aligned screening. Pilgrims departing from newly added cities such as Kolkata should verify embarkation details once allocations are confirmed. Finally, keeping passports valid and documents current will help avoid delays when dues booking and visa steps begin.