(a) whether the Ministry has received any request from the state of Telengana seeking increase in Haj Quota of the State;
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the response of the Union Government in this regard?
(a) whether the Ministry has received any request from the state of Telengana seeking increase in Haj Quota of the State;
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the response of the Union Government in this regard?
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) IN THE
MINISTRY OF MINORITY AFFAIRS
(SHRI MUKHTAR ABBAS NAQVI)
(a) to (c) Haj matters have been transferred from Ministry of External Affairs to Ministry of Minority Affairs with effect from 1st October, 2016. Several requests have been received from various States and Union Territories including Telangana, for increase in Haj quota for Haj-2016. The entire quota allocated to Haj Committee of India for Haj-2016 was distributed amongst the States and Union Territories on the basis of their respective Muslim population, based on the 2011 census figures.
From Haj-2013, Saudi Government has reduced the overall Haj quota for pilgrims from foreign countries, including from India, by 20% to facilitate the infrastructure work being carried out around the “Haram Sharif”. The Government has been requesting the Government of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for increasing the annual Haj quota for India. However, the annual Haj quota for India has remained unchanged since Haj 2013. As and when the quota allocated by Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to India is increased, the same would be passed on to the States according to existing norms.
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