The responsibility for making air travel arrangements for Haj pilgrims identified by the Haj Committee of India (HCoI) is with Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA). The pilgrims deposit a fixed amount decided on year to year basis towards airfare to HCoI and the balance fare payable to the Airlines is paid by MoCA as subsidy to facilitate the Haj pilgrims. The subsidy given by the Government during last three years and current year and the amount deposited to HCoI by each pilgrim towards airfare is as under:

The total amount charged from each Pilgrim varies depending on the category of accommodation and the amount of airport charges for the embarkation point plus the fixed amount deposited towards airfare. For Haj 2016, the total amount for Azizia category was Rs.1,85,000/- (approx.) and for Green Category was Rs.2,19,000/- (approx.).

As per directions of the Supreme Court to progressively reduce Haj subsidy so as to completely eliminate it within a period of 10 years, Haj subsidy has been gradually reduced from Rs.836.56 crore in 2012-13 to Rs. 405 crore (approx) in the year 2016-17 and various aspects linked to it are determined and implemented. Representations on various aspects of Haj including Haj subsidy are received in the Ministry from time to time, which are considered as per existing Policy of the Government.

This information was given by Shri Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, the Minister of State (IC) for Minority Affairs, in written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.

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BCK/AK