Quota Allocation: India and Saudi Arabia have inked a bilateral agreement, designating a quota of 1,75,025 pilgrims for the 2024 annual Haj pilgrimage. Out of this, 1,40,020 seats are reserved for pilgrims through the Haj Committee, and 35,005 pilgrims can proceed through private operators.

Key Officials’ Meet: Union Minister Smriti Irani, along with Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan, signed the agreement with Saudi Arabia’s Minister for Hajj and Umrah, Tawfiq bin Fawzan Al-Rabiah in Jeddah. The digital initiatives of the Indian government for the convenience of Haj pilgrims were appreciated.

Facilitating First-Time Pilgrims: The agreement is expected to benefit common first-time pilgrims, ensuring ease and convenience in the pilgrimage process.

Focus on Ladies without Mehram (LWM) Category: The initiative to encourage participation under the Ladies without Mehram (LWM) category was discussed and lauded during the meeting.

Logistics and Monitoring: The visit included an inspection of the Haj Terminal at King Abdulaziz International Airport, Jeddah, aiming to enhance logistics and monitoring for Indian Haj pilgrims.