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Polity & Governance
Mahesh

14/01/23 09:22 AM IST

Centre to end discretionary Haj quota

In News
  • The Union Minister for Minority Affairs, Smriti Irani, recently announced that the Indian government has done away with the discretionary Haj quota for pilgrims.
About Haj Pilgrimage
  • The Haj is an annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, the holiest city for Muslims.
  • It is considered to be a mandatory religious duty for all adult Muslims physically and financially capable of doing so.
  • The rites of pilgrimage are performed over five to six days, in Dhu al-Hijjah, the last month of the Islamic calendar
Abolition of Discretionary Quota
  • The “Government discretionary quota” is further divided in two, 200 seats are with the Haj Committee itself and 300 are with people holding important offices at the Centre.
  • These include, 100 with the President, 75 with the Prime Minister, 75 with the Vice President, 50 with the Minister of Minority Affairs.
  • As per the old policy, these seats could be allocated to individuals who applied for the pilgrimage through the normal means but were unsuccessful in getting a slot for the pilgrimage.
  • According to the 2018-22 policy document, 70 per cent of India’s total quota goes to the HCoI and 30 per cent goes to private operators.
Source- Indian Express

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