NEW DELHI: Around 1.75 lakh pilgrims will be able to go for Haj to Saudi Arabia as per the quota designated to India by Saudi Arabia this year.The application procedure for Haj is yet to be opened through the devoted online website by the ministry of minority affairs.The first batch for Haj typically leaves in May or June depending upon the schedule alerted and shared together with the guidelines by authorities in Saudi Arabia.Last year after a two year break due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Indian Muslim pilgrims had the ability to go for Haj.

A restricted quota of around 79,000 was assgined by Saudi Arabia in the middle of the pandemic associated preventive restrictions.

The authorities in Saudi Arabia had actually issued Covid-19 associated standards for pilgrims to follow.In a written reply to a concern in Lok Sabha, minister for minority affairs Smriti Irani informed Parliament that the ministry has had a number of interactive sessions on Haj management with the stakeholders consisting of Haj Committees of the states and Union Territories (UTs) where requests for restoration of Haj quota were received.

The problem was resolved under the yearly bilateral agreement with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for Haj 2023 and inspite of obstacles of Covid-19, the initial Haj quota of the nation 1,75,025 has actually been restored for Haj 2023, the minister said in her reply.