Haj Review Meeting and Future Planning
The Ministry of Minority Affairs convened the Haj Review Meeting on 18 June 2026 at the Dr. Ambedkar International Centre in New Delhi, chaired by Union Minister Shri Kiren Rijiju. The meeting reviewed the conduct of Haj-2026 and deliberated upon the roadmap for Haj-2027. Participants included Dr. Srivatsa Krishna (Secretary, Ministry of Minority Affairs), Ms. Sripriya Ranganathan (Secretary (CPV & OIA), Ministry of External Affairs), and senior officials from Ministries of External Affairs, Civil Aviation, Health & Family Welfare, and Home Affairs, along with representatives of the Haj Committee of India, BISAG-N, and other stakeholders.
Haj-2026 Achievements and Recognition
Approximately 1.75 lakh Indian Haj pilgrims performed Haj during the 2026 season, which was conducted successfully through 400 flights despite the prevailing geopolitical situation in the region. The Indian Haj Mission received two Labbaytum Awards from the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah under the "Best Haj Coordination and Communication" category, presented at the Khitamahu Misk ceremony. This marked the first time India received these awards, recognizing seamless facilitation and welfare of Indian pilgrims.
Pilgrim-Centric Measures and Technological Reforms
Haj-2026 introduced several innovative measures: sofa-cum-beds were provided in Mina for enhanced comfort; 62,500 pilgrims traveled from Makkah to Madinah by high-speed railway, considerably shortening the journey; hotel-style accommodation in Makkah was introduced; and a 20-day Short Haj Package was availed by about 10,500 pilgrims, mainly working professionals. Technology-driven reforms included integration with the Saudi Nusuk platform, online flight booking, and a strengthened digital grievance redressal mechanism. All Indian pilgrims in Madinah were accommodated in the Markazia area for better accessibility.
Operational Support and Medical Facilities
The operation was supported by extensive transportation, comprehensive medical facilities, and deployment of medical and administrative teams—including a dedicated medical team in the Mina camps—with round-the-clock assistance by the Indian Haj Mission.
Future Roadmap and AI Integration
The meeting reviewed emerging AI interventions for end-to-end Haj pilgrim management, including a 24×7 multilingual voice-based support system in Hindi, Urdu and major regional languages, AI-assisted applications and documents verification, demand modelling for flight allocation across embarkation points, and real-time grievance tracking and escalation. These are envisaged for phased implementation.
Preparation for Haj-2027
Union Minister Shri Kiren Rijiju directed all concerned Ministries, agencies, and stakeholders to commence preparations for Haj-2027 on priority, covering quota allocation, eligibility and health requirements, air arrangements, accommodation, transportation, Mina facilities, medical preparedness, and wider adoption of technology. Sustained coordination with the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah will be central to success, culminating in the signing of the bilateral agreement on Haj-2027 between India and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on 7 November 2026. The Haj Policy-2027 will be announced shortly, after which the Haj Committee of India will invite applications from prospective pilgrims for an early start to the application process.