The Haj Committee of India, under the Ministry of Minority Affairs, Government of India, organized the Review Meeting for Haj 2025 Preparations at the Haj House, Mumbai, on December 20, 2024. The meeting brought together senior officials, representatives from state Haj committees, and key stakeholders to discuss and strategise for the forthcoming Haj season. The meeting was chaired by Dr. Chandra Shekhar Kumar, Secretary, Ministry of Minority Affairs in the presence of Shri C.P.S. Bakshi, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Minority Affairs. Key learnings of Haj 2024 and new measures for making Haj 2025 a seamless experience were discussed and new initiatives for Haj 2025 were reviewed by the Secretary, Ministry of Minority Affairs.

In his address, Dr. Chandra Shekhar Kumar emphasized the importance of meticulous planning, collaborative efforts, and the use of innovative technologies to ensure a seamless and spiritually enriching journey for pilgrims. He said that State Haj Inspectors (SHIs) are the first line of defence, hence, it is very essential to select merit-based, tech-savvy and committed applicants. This will ensure that  most issues of pilgrims are resolved speedily and they receive individual attention by the State Haj Inspectors.

Shri C.P.S. Bakshi highlighted the Ministry’s firm commitment to the welfare and facilitation of pilgrims, reiterating the Ministry’s support for all stakeholders.

A key highlight of the meeting was the launch of the CBT (computer-based test) Portal, a significant technological advancement designed to streamline the selection process of Haj Trainers and State Haj Inspectors as Haj is becoming more and more a technologically driven activity. The portal was developed in collaboration with BISAG-N, whose team demonstrated its user-friendly interface and functionalities during the event.

A presentation was made by the Chief Executive Officer and discussions held by the participants focusing on improving the overall Haj experience for pilgrims. Various aspects of the preparation, including modalities for conduct of computer-based exam for the selection of Haj trainers and State Haj Inspectors, logistics, training, medical facilities, and welfare services were discussed. Feedback from State/ UT Haj Committees were also sought and taken into consideration and it was decided to ensure close coordination with all the stakeholders. Mr. Ashfaque Ahmad Arfi, Executive Officer, Delhi State Haj Committee shared his recent experience of working as a member of the Building Inspection-cum-Selection Team and said that India being the first country to initiate building selection process so early had the advantage of getting good quality buildings and the team finalized about 50% of total accommodation required for Haj 2025 in less than a week, marking it as the fastest progress achieved in recent years.    

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SS/PRK

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