India Opens Online Haj Applications From Jan 2, 2017

The government has launched a trilingual website www.haj.gov.in for Haj Matters on Tuesday in Hindi, Urdu and English to facilitate online application for Haj, besides giving information about the Ministry of Minority Affairs, Haj Department, Haj Pilgrimage, rules and regulations. It may be noted that Haj affairs are being looked after by the Ministry of Minority Affairs now, not the Ministry of External Affairs.

Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, Minister of Minority Affairs, said the website also has Do’s and Don’ts during Haj and also a film informing about various aspects of the pilgrimage. On preparations for next Haj, the Minister said Haj 2017 has already been announced and from 2nd January 2017, Haj Committee of India will start receiving the application.

Naqvi said he had held a meeting with Saudi Arabia Ambassador Dr. Saud Mohammed Alsati in New Delhi on Tuesday and issues concerning next Haj pilgrimage were discussed in detail. Efforts are also on with officials of Civil Aviation Ministry to provide aircraft with all modern facilities for Haj pilgrims, he added.

The website www.haj.gov.in is a one stop facility to provide all necessary information relating to Haj management in one place. It features information on various agencies involved in Haj management, useful contacts of the central and state Haj authorities, location maps of State Haj Houses, location maps of accommodation sites in Makkah and Medina etc., and useful links to the website of Haj Committee of India and Consulate General of India, Jeddah.

Every year Government of India deputes administrative and medical officials on temporary deputation to CGI, Jeddah for 2-3 months. This website provides link for the prospective applicants to enable them to apply online through the dedicated portal. The website also hosts information about the Private Tour Operators(PTO). It also has provision for getting feedback from users and for registration of public grievances.

It may be recalled that Haj matters have been transferred from Ministry of External Affairs to Ministry of Minority Affairs with effect from 1st October, 2016. Ever since, the preparations for Haj 2017 have been undertaken and efforts are being made to bring about further improvements in the Haj management process so as to make Haj Pilgrimage more convenient, affordable and a memorable experience for the Haj pilgrims.