Union Minister of Minority Affairs, Sh. Kiren Rijiju extended his best wishes to all pilgrims and reiterated the Government’s commitment to ensuring a smooth, safe, and comfortable Haj experience. Secretary, Ministry of Minority Affairs, Dr. Srivatsa Krishna, flagged off the first flight of Haj pilgrims from Delhi to Madinah departing for Haj 2026 at 09:45 AM today. Addressing the pilgrims at the embarkation point, he extended his heartfelt wishes for a smooth, safe, and spiritually fulfilling journey.
Dr. Krishna assured the pilgrims that the Government of India, remains fully committed to ensuring their comfort and well-being throughout the pilgrimage. He noted that comprehensive arrangements, including medical assistance and logistical support, have been put in place in close coordination with the Consulate General of India, Jeddah and Saudi authorities to ensure a seamless pilgrimage experience.
Interacting with the pilgrims, the Secretary highlighted the Government’s continued efforts to make the Haj process more inclusive, transparent, and efficient. He emphasized that sustained reforms—such as end-to-end digitization of the application process, enhanced transparency in selection, and improved facilities at embarkation points—have significantly improved accessibility for pilgrims across the country.
The departing pilgrims expressed their appreciation for the Government’s initiatives and arrangements. With strengthened infrastructure, technology-driven interventions, and ongoing reforms, Haj 2026 is poised to further enhance the overall pilgrimage experience for Indian pilgrims.
Union Minister Shri Kiren Rijiju extended his heartfelt wishes to all 1,75,025 pilgrims undertaking the sacred Haj journey and reiterated the Government’s commitment to ensuring a smooth, safe, and comfortable Haj experience. He highlighted that the Ministry has undertaken several new initiatives this year to further enhance the quality of services for pilgrims.



