Haj Group Organisers

Ministry of Minority Affairs is the nodal ministry to conduct Haj pilgrimage in India.Haj pilgrimage for the Indian Pilgrims is conducted either through Haj Committee of India (HCoI), which is a statutory organization under the administrative control of Ministry of Minority Affairs or through the Private Tour Operators (PTOs).The quota of pilgrims is divided between Haj Committee of India (HCOI) and Private Tour Operators (PTOs). ...For Haj 2017, the annual quota of India was 1,70,025 pilgrims. In which, 1,24,940 Indian Hajis performed Haj through Haj Committee of India (HCOI) & 45,000 through Private Tour Operators (PTOs). For Haj 2018, the annual quota of India has increased to 1,75,025 pilgrims which is 5000 more than previous year.
After Hajj 2002, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia made it mandatory for the PTOs to come through their respective Governments. Therefore, from the year 2002, the Government of India evolved a system under which private operators/ travel agents were registered as PTOs and following the registration were allocated quotas from the overall number of seats specified for PTOs.
Till the year 2012, the PTO Policy was formulated annually. However, in the year 2013, a five year PTO Policy for Haj 2013-17 was approved by Hon`ble Supreme Court of India. This Policy remained valid till Haj 2017.Based on the recommendations of Haj Policy Committee and the evidence based study conducted by IIT Delhi,Ministry framed the PTO Policies for Haj 2018 and subsequently for the next five years i.e. Haj 2019-23.

Haj Deputation

Every year, during Haj season, Government of India deputes India based officials on short term deputation to CGI Jeddah for rendering assistance to the Consulate General and Indian Haj Pilgrims. The officials in Administrative category are being sent as Coordinators, Assistant Haj Officers and Haj Assistants. Ministry of Minority Affairs invites applications from Muslim permanent employees working in Central Armed Police Forces ...(CAPFs) & IPS for temporary deputation to Consulate General of India, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The period of deputation will be approx. 02-03 months. The deputationists will be deemed to be on duty 24 hours during the entire period of deputation. The services of deputationists will be at the disposal of the Consulate General of India (CGI),Jeddah during their deputation.
They will be deployed by CGI, Jeddah for rendering appropriate services to the Indian Haj pilgrims for specified duration depending on functional requirements. The tasks allotted inter-alia includes assisting pilgrims in performing their Haj rituals, in their daily activities and attending to their grievances.
Every year during Haj season, Government of India, Ministry of Minority Affairs sends approximately 600 India based Haj Deputationists to CGI, Jeddah for rendering administrative and medical assistance to Indian Haj pilgrims on short term deputation. The period of deputation is normally 2-3 months during the Haj season. Selection is made from the officials working in the Central Armed Police Forces(CAPFs) & IPS.

Haj Pilgrimage

Haj is one of the most complex organizational tasks undertaken by Government of India outside Indian borders. Indian pilgrims constitute the third largest national group performing the Haj.
In India, Haj pilgrims go for pilgrimage either through the Haj Committee of India (HCoI) established under the Hajj Committee Act, 2002 or through the Haj Group Organisers (HGOs) registered with the Government of India. ...HCoI is responsible for making the arrangements for matters connected with Haj for the pilgrims going through it. All aspects of the arrangements for the HCoI pilgrims in Saudi Arabia are coordinated by the Consulate General of India (CGI), Jeddah under the overall supervision of the Ambassador of India in Riyadh.
M/o Civil Aviation is responsible for all arrangements for air travel of the pilgrims going for Haj through Haj Committee of India and the matters connected therewith.
The registered HGOs make their own arrangements with regard to the pilgrims travelling through them. The facilities provided by the HGOs vary. Government does not interfere in the package cost determined by the individual HGOs and the cost of Haj tour is decided mutually between the pilgrim and the HGO.
This website provides opportunity to the intending pilgrims to compare the tour packages and facilities provided by different HGOs.