Haj forms made available for free; 25 embarkation points this year: Minority Affairs Ministry

There will be 25 boarding slots for Haj-2023 and forms for the pilgrimage will be available very soon and the application will be available for free, according to the Ministry of Minority Affairs.

The ministry said the Haj policy, released on Monday, will bring financial relief to pilgrims. The cost of the Haj package has been reduced by around Rs 50,000 as the money deposited with the Haj Committee for foreign exchange and items such as umbrellas, bags and sheets will not be charged and these items can be arranged by the pilgrims themselves, sources said. .

The new Haj Policy states that of the total quota allocated to the Government of India, 80 per cent will be allocated to the Haj Committee of India and the remaining 20 per cent will be allocated to private operators. “Those who have performed Haj earlier through Haj Committee of India will not be eligible to apply. In case of ‘Mehram’ for female pilgrims and companions accompanying pilgrims above 70 years of age, repeaters will be allowed on payment of additional charges, if any,” the policy states.

Pilgrims and persons above 70 years of age who use repeater service as "Mehram" must honestly declare and undertake that no "Mehram" is available in the family for the first time. Haj application forms can be obtained from the State and Union Territory Haj Committees free of cost or can be downloaded from the Haj Committee of India website at hajcommittee.gov.in or through the Android mobile application “HAJ COMMITTEE OF INDIA” available on Play Store.

Application forms are now free for the first time, the ministry said.