On Tuesday, the Saudi Ministry of Hajj agreed to open up the Haj (Nusuk) Portal to receive another 10,000 Indian pilgrims, the Ministry of Minority Affairs announced. Such a decision is on the back of the space that now exists in Mina, one of the vital areas during the Hajj Pilgrimage. In fact, the reopened portal is created specifically for Combined Haj Group Operators (CHGOs) who now ask the Ministry to complete all formalities needed without any delay.
This comes after the recent concern of about 52,000 Indian Hajj pilgrims after reports, including the reporters, raised doubts on their future. But these concerns came after Saudi authorities pulled previously orchestrated zones in Mina out of privately assigned lots for tour operators; thousands were left hanging.
The total Hajj quota to India by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is 1,75,025 (1.75 lakh) pilgrims under the Government of India’s Haj Policy for 2025. Of this total, 70 percent of pilgrims will travel on the mandate of the Hajj Committee of India and the rest on the subvention of Private Haj Group Organisers (HGOs), including the CHGOs (or CHGOs).
Following the situation and to smooth coordination, the Secretary of the Ministry of Minority Affairs, Chandra Shekhar Kumar, along with Joint Secretary CPS Bakshi also went to Jeddah to make an assessment of arrangements of Indian pilgrims. Apart from this, Union Minister for Minority Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiu traveled to Saudi Arabia between January 11 and January 14 to discuss high-level Hajj preparations.
The reopening of the portal is going to be good news for thousands of Indian pilgrims aspiring to visit the temple, and both governments are trying to make the gateway to the temple easier and more inclusive.
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