Bad news for Indians as Saudi Arabia cancels quota for…, Modi government now plans to…
New Delhi: Over 52,000 Indians who had booked for their Hajj pilgrimage through private tour operators are likely to face a major setback. The Ministry of Minority Affairs has issued a fresh circular stating that only 20 percent of the private quota that was booked earlier will be confirmed initially. It means that 80 percent of the people who registered under Combined Haj Group Organisers (CHGOs) may not be able to perform Hajj 2025.
It is important to note that the decision comes after the Saudi Ministry of Haj and Umrah shut down access to the Nusuk portal—a mandatory online platform used to finalise contracts and services for pilgrims. The Saudi authorities cancelled Mina Zones 1 and 2, which had been allotted to CHGOs, due to the delays in payments and non-finalisation of service agreements. The remaining zones (3, 4 and 5) have also been held up, further worsening the situation.
The Ministry of Minority Affairs has held private tour operators responsible for the lapse. It stated that each CHGO was supposed to independently finalise service arrangements on the Nusuk portal, but most of them failed to upload contracts or process payments on time. The Saudi authorities, as a result, revoked access and froze all zones meant for private Indian pilgrims.
A private tour operator, speaking to Vartha Bharati on the condition of anonymity, claimed that the lapses were on the government’s part. According to the operator, starting last year, Saudi authorities introduced changes to the payment process, requiring private operators to route their payments through the government, which would then transfer the funds to the Saudi side. The operator added that while most private operators had deposited their payments with the government on time, a few may have delayed. He also noted that before 2024, private operators were allowed to make payments directly to the Saudi authorities from their own accounts.
“The government, however, while waiting to the payment from all the operators, delayed the payment and that led to the closure of payment channels of Saudi authorities. Because of the negligence of the government, all the operators, including those who had processed their payments are now facing difficulty,” the operator told Vartha Bharati.
Saudi Arabia Agrees to Reopen Portal:
The Ministry of Minority Affairs took the matter to the highest levels of the Saudi Ministry of Haj and Umrah. As a result, the Saudi side has agreed to temporarily reopen the Nusuk portal—but only for a short and unspecified window. This short reopening will allow CHGOs to upload service contracts and finalise accommodation, transport and logistics arrangements for their pilgrims.
However, the circular cautions that due to the limited availability of zones and camps in Mina, allocations will be made on a real-time, first-come-first-serve basis. It also remains unclear how many tents or zones will be available, or in which specific areas they will be located.
Allocation Policy Announced
As per the new guidelines:
• 20% of the booked quota will be initially allocated to each CHGO.
• The remaining camps will be evenly distributed among all CHGOs.
• If there are still any leftover camps, they will be given on a first-come-first-serve basis.
This process will be handled by the help desk at CGI Jeddah, and CHGOs have been asked to act urgently as the Saudi portal window may close anytime.
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