Srinagar, Jul 20: The Haj Committee of India (HCoI) has extended the last date for submission of online applications for Haj-2027 (1448 Hijri) till July 24, with the officials from Jammu and Kashmir Haj Committee stating that a total of 3800 applications have been received so far from the Union Territory.
According to an official circular issued by Chief Executive Officer (CEO), HCoI under the Ministry of Minority Affairs, Shanavas C, additional time of four days has been provided to intending pilgrims who could not complete the process due to delays in passport issuance.
The extension has been granted following representations from several State and Union Territory Haj Committees, particularly from under-quota states. “No further extension of the application deadline will be granted under any circumstances,” the circular reads.
The Committee has also announced that the Qurrah (Digital Random Selection) for Haj-2027 will be conducted on July 30 from 11 am at Haj House, Mumbai. The draw will be live-streamed on the Haj Committee’s official website to ensure transparency.
Following the draw, the lists of provisionally selected and waitlisted applicants will be uploaded on the Haj Committee’s website, while applicants will also be informed through SMS.
The circular further states that all provisionally selected pilgrims will have to deposit an advance Haj amount of Rs 1,52,300 by August 10, 2026, failing which their selection may not be confirmed.
State and Union Territory Haj Committees have been directed to widely publicise the revised schedule and complete scrutiny of Haj application forms and cover generation by July 25.
The Haj Committee said the extension is aimed at facilitating eligible applicants who were unable to submit their forms within the original deadline because their passports were still under process. It, however, reiterated that the revised deadline of July 24 will be final and no further relaxation will be considered.
Meanwhile, Executive Officer, J&K Haj Committee (JKHC), Dr Shujaat Ahmad Qureshi told Rising Kashmir that a total of 3800 applications have been received by them from the intending pilgrims so far.
He said that the number has risen from 2300 in last week to 3800 today against the total quota of 8,000 for J&K, saying that the four day extension has been granted and they are expecting more such applications in the coming days.
According to Dr Qureshi, they had received 5200 applications for Haj-2026 and later more than 4600 pilgrims opted to go for the pilgrimage.
Notably, Dr Qureshi had on July 15 attributed the persistent decline in the Haj applications in Jammu and Kashmir to the rising cost of the pilgrimage.
“We have been witnessing a significant decline in the number of Haj applicants after 2023. The biggest reason is the rising cost of the pilgrimage,” Dr Qureshi had said, adding that the pilgrims from Jammu and Kashmir paid around Rs 4.18 lakh for Haj-2026, making it difficult for many families to undertake the pilgrimage.
“The increase in Haj charges is due to several factors, including general inflation of nearly 7 per cent, the withdrawal of the Haj subsidy after 2018 and the appreciation of the Saudi Riyal against the Indian Rupee over the years,” he had said.
Dr Qureshi said the trend was not confined to Jammu and Kashmir alone, with several Northern States also receiving applications below their allotted Haj quota, unlike many southern states where demand continues to remain strong.
