India has released its Haj Policy for 2027, introducing artificial-intelligence tools to manage pilgrims and tightening the medical and eligibility rules that decide who can travel. The Ministry of Minority Affairs announced the policy on June 22 and opened applications the same day through the Haj Committee of India portal and the Haj Suvidha mobile app. The computerised draw of lots, known as Qurrah, is scheduled for July 30.
According to the ministry, the quota split between the Haj Committee of India and private Haj Group Organisers stays at 70:30. That works out to 1,22,518 seats for the committee and 52,507 for the private sector. India's overall allocation stood at 1,75,025 pilgrims last year, and the ministry says it will press Saudi authorities to raise the figure for 2027.
Artificial intelligence enters the process
The headline change is technological. The policy raises the ratio of State Haj Inspectors from one for every 150 pilgrims to one for every 135, and layers AI-assisted systems on top of that human support. The ministry says it is developing AI-powered applications for document verification, optimised flight allocation across embarkation points, and real-time grievance monitoring.
A central feature is a conversational AI assistant designed to help pilgrims around the clock in Hindi, Urdu and major regional languages. Officials say pilgrims will be able to ask questions by voice or text at every stage, from filling in the application form to checking payments, flights, accommodation and baggage, or raising an emergency alert. The stated aim is to cut errors and rejections in applications, reduce dependence on intermediaries, and put accurate information within reach of first-time and elderly pilgrims.
Tighter health and eligibility rules
The 2027 policy hardens the medical requirements. A two-step screening has been introduced, one at the application stage and another for selected pilgrims at the embarkation stage. The ministry states plainly that only healthy pilgrims should proceed. Severe cardiac, respiratory, liver or kidney disease, active cancer and certain infectious diseases such as open tuberculosis render an applicant ineligible.
Vaccination rules remain strict. Every selected pilgrim must hold a certificate for a single dose of the meningococcal meningitis vaccine. Oral polio vaccine is mandatory six weeks before departure, with a second dose administered on arrival in Saudi Arabia. These are recorded on the Health and Training card that each pilgrim must carry.
Age-based rules continue to shape who can go and with whom. Pilgrims aged 65 or above must travel with a companion aged between 18 and 65. Ladies Without Mehram aged 65 or above need a female companion aged 45 to 60. Women aged 45 or above without a male Mehram may travel in groups of four or more where their school of thought permits.
Seat priority, embarkation and the Short Haj Package
When applications exceed the quota, selection follows a fixed order of priority. First preference goes to the 65-plus age category, including women without Mehram in that group. Next come Ladies Without Mehram aged 45 to 65, followed by the top 20 per cent of applicants left on the Haj 2026 waiting list, and finally fresh applicants for 2027.
India has 19 designated embarkation points, from Srinagar and Delhi to Chennai, Kolkata and Guwahati. Pilgrims list two preferences in order. The main package covers a stay of roughly 40 to 45 days. The Short Haj Package, a 20-day option first offered last year, returns for up to 10,000 pilgrims and now adds Kolkata as an embarkation point to meet regional demand.
Practical tips for prospective pilgrims: apply only through the official Haj Committee of India website or the Haj Suvidha app, and avoid unverified agents. Complete the medical check-up early, since chronic conditions can disqualify an application outright. Confirm meningitis and polio vaccinations well ahead of the deadline. Elderly applicants should line up an eligible companion before submitting, as the age rules are strictly enforced. Keep the Health and Training card and Haj Guide safe once issued, and note that cancellations are permitted only on grounds of death or serious illness, with penalties otherwise.