"Union Minister Kiren Rijiju Visits Saudi Arabia to Oversee Preparations for Haj Pilgrimage".

International

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, from the Ministry of Minority Affairs (MoMA) and the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs (MoPA), visited Saudi Arabia from 11th to 14th January 2025 to oversee preparations for the upcoming Haj pilgrimage.


      - The visit aimed to ensure enhanced arrangements for Indian pilgrims during Haj 2025 and included bilateral meetings with Saudi officials in Jeddah and Madinah.

      - India and Saudi Arabia signed a Bilateral Agreement for Haj 2025, ensuring a quota of 1,75,025 pilgrims for Indian Haj pilgrims.

      - The Union Minister attended the 4th edition of the Hajj & Umrah Conference and Exhibition held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, organized by the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah.

Main Point :-   (i) Under the Hajj Policy 2025, 30% of the Haj quota (52,507 slots) will be allocated to Private Haj Group Organizers (HGOs), while 70% will be allocated to the Haj Committee of India (HCOI).

      (ii) The conference provided a platform for decision-makers, experts, and researchers in the Hajj & Umrah sector to share insights, facilitate discussions, and suggest suitable practices for the pilgrimage.

(iii) The agreement for Haj 2025 secures a significant quota for Indian pilgrims, with a clear distribution strategy between the Haj Committee of India and Private Haj Group Organizers.
About Saudi Arabia

PM: Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud
Capital: Riyadh
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