Parliament Question: Haj Pilgrims of Jharkhand

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINORITY AFFAIRS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4031 ANSWERED ON 12.08.2026 HAJ PILGRIMS OF JHARKHAND 4031. SHRI CHANDRA PRAKASH CHOUDHARY: Will the Minister of MINORITY AFFAIRS be pleased to state: (a) whether it is a fact that the Haj pilgrims of Jharkhand State have been forced to depart from Kolkata Embarkation Point for Haj pilgrimage during the last few years due to which they have to face long-distance travel, additional expenditure and other inconveniences and if so, the details thereof; (b) whether the Government has examined the possibility of re-notifying Ranchi as an Embarkation Point on the basis of the number of Haj pilgrims from Jharkhand and the necessary infrastructure available at Ranchi Airport; (c) if so, the details thereof and the present status of the said examination/review; and (d) whether the Government has any proposal or schemes to re-start Ranchi as an Embarkation Point for the Haj pilgrims of Jharkhand from Haj-2027 and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF MINORITY AFFAIRS (SHRI KIREN RIJIJU) (a): Haj pilgrims are free to opt for any of the notified Embarkation Points across the country. At the time of submission of the Haj Application Form, pilgrims are required to indicate two preferred Embarkation Points, keeping in view their convenience and the previous year's fare. Kolkata has traditionally been the most preferred Embarkation Point for pilgrims from Jharkhand. (b) to (d): The Embarkation Points for Haj are decided after taking into account several factors, which includes, the demand received from the concerned State, availability of requisite infrastructure for international carriage, operational feasibility and consultation with the stakeholders. At present, the Government has no such proposal to start Ranchi as an Embarkation Point for the Haj pilgrims of Jharkhand. *****