**Executive Summary:**
The response addresses questions regarding the Haj Committee of India's (HCoI) constitution, member selection, terms, representation, roles, and coordination with government agencies, as per the Haj Act, 2002. The previous committee's term expired on March 31, 2025. The HCoI operates under the Ministry of Minority Affairs.
**Key Points / Main Content:**
* **Constitution and Control:**
* The Haj Committee of India (HCoI) is a statutory body constituted under the Haj Committee Act, 2002.
* It functions under the administrative control of the Ministry of Minority Affairs.
* **Committee Composition (Section 4 of the Haj Committee Act, 2002):**
* Three Members of Parliament (two from Lok Sabha, one from Rajya Sabha), nominated by the Speaker/Chairman from Muslim members.
* Nine Muslim members elected from states sending the largest number of pilgrims and from specified zones.
* Four ex-officio members not below the rank of Joint Secretary, representing the Ministries of External Affairs, Home, Finance, and Civil Aviation.
* Seven Muslim members nominated by the Central Government, including individuals with knowledge of public administration/finance/social work (including Shia Muslim representation), women (including Shia Muslim representation), and experts in Muslim theology and law (including Shia Muslim representation).
* **Term of Office (Section 6 of the Haj Committee Act, 2002):**
* Members (excluding ex-officio and those filling casual vacancies) serve a three-year term, starting after the publication of the member list.
* The Central Government can extend the term by up to six months at a time, not exceeding a total extension of one year.
* **Representation:**
* The HCoI's composition, as defined in Section 4 of the Act, ensures representation from various States/Union Territories, Muslim Members of Parliament/Legislatures, and eminent Muslims.
* This aims to adequately represent the interests of all sections of the Muslim community.
* **Roles and Responsibilities:**
* The HCoI is primarily responsible for making arrangements for Indian Haj pilgrims within India.
* It coordinates with the Ministry of Minority Affairs, the Consulate General of India (CGI) in Jeddah, and other government agencies (e.g., Ministries of Civil Aviation, Health & Family Welfare, and External Affairs).
* Coordination includes flight scheduling, medical facilities, consular support, and liaison with Saudi Arabia for arrangements in Makkah, Madinah, and other sites.
**Impact Analysis**
* **Ministry of Minority Affairs:**
* *Impact:* Responsible for the administrative control of the HCoI and ensuring its effective functioning.
* *Action Required:* Oversee the constitution and operations of the HCoI, ensuring compliance with the Haj Committee Act, 2002.
* **Members of Parliament (Speaker of the House, Chairman of the Council of States):**
* *Impact:* Responsible for nominating Muslim members to the Haj Committee from their respective houses.
* *Action Required:* Nominate members as required, ensuring representation as per the Act.
* **Central Government:**
* *Impact:* Nominates ex-officio members and other Muslim members to the HCoI. Has the power to extend the term of the committee.
* *Action Required:* Nominate suitable members from specified categories and consider term extensions as needed.
* **State Governments/Union Territories:**
* *Impact:* States sending the largest number of pilgrims elect members to the HCoI.
* *Action Required:* Participate in the election process to ensure representation on the committee.
* **Indian Haj Pilgrims:**
* *Impact:* Benefit from the arrangements made by the HCoI for their pilgrimage.
* *Action Required:* Participate in the Haj pilgrimage process as per guidelines set by the HCoI and relevant authorities.
Key Entities Referenced
Haj Committee of India: A statutory body constituted under the Haj Committee Act, 2002, responsible for making arrangements for Indian Haj pilgrims.
Haj Act, 2002: The legislation under which the Haj Committee of India is constituted and operates.
Ministry of Minority Affairs: The Government of India ministry under whose administrative control the Haj Committee of India functions.
Section 4 of the Haj Committee Act, 2002: Defines the composition of the Haj Committee.
Section 6 of the Haj Committee Act, 2002: Specifies the term of office for the members of the Haj Committee.
Ministry of External Affairs: A Government of India ministry represented on the Haj Committee.
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: The country where Makkah and Madinah, important pilgrimage sites, are located; the Haj Committee coordinates with Saudi authorities for arrangements.
Jeddah: Location of the Consulate General of India CGI, which coordinates with the Haj Committee.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF MINORITY AFFAIRS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4499
ANSWERED ON 20.08.2025
“THE HAJ COMMITTEE OF INDIA”
4499. SHRI MOHIBBULLAH:
Will the Minister of MINORITY AFFAIRS be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Haj Committee of India has been constituted as per the Haj Act, 2002 and if
so, the details thereof along with its current composition;
(b) the details of process for selecting members of the Haj Committee and Authority
responsible for their appointment;
(c) the details of the term of office for Haj Committee members and the criteria for their
eligibility;
(d) the manner in which the Government ensures that the Haj Committee represents the
interests of all Muslim communities in India; and
(e) the details of roles and responsibilities of the Haj Committee and the manner in which it
coordinates with other Government agencies?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF MINORITY AFFAIRS
(SHRI KIREN RIJIJU)
(a): The Haj Committee of India (HCoI) is a statutory body constituted under the provisions
of the Haj Committee Act, 2002. It functions under the administrative control of the Ministry
of Minority Affairs, Government of India. The previous Haj Committee was constituted on
1st April, 2022 for a three-year term, which expired on 31st March, 2025.
(b) and (c): The composition of Haj Committee as defined in Section 4 of the Haj Committee
Act, 2002 is as under:-
(i) three members of Parliament of whom two are to be nominated by the Speaker of the
House of the People from among its Muslim members, and one by the Chairman of the
Council of States from among its Muslim members:
Provided that a member of Parliament shall, upon ceasing to be a member, cease to be a
member of the Committee and the Speaker of the House of the People or the Chairman of
the Council of States, as the case may be, shall make a fresh nomination upon request by
the Central Government;
(ii) nine Muslim members of the Committee shall be elected, three from those States
sending largest number of pilgrims during last three years and one each from the zones as
specified in the Schedule, in such manner as may be prescribed:
Provided that not more than one member shall be elected from a State falling in the
zone as specified in the Schedule;(iii) four persons not below the rank of Joint Secretary to the Government of India
nominated by that Government to represent the Ministries of External Affairs, Home,
Finance and Civil Aviation, as ex officio members;
(iv) seven Muslim members shall be nominated by the Central Government from among
the following categories of persons, namely:-
(a) two members who have special knowledge of public administration, finance,
education, culture or social work and out of whom one shall be a Shia Muslim;
(b) two women members, out of them one shall be Shia Muslim;
(c) three members who have special knowledge of Muslim theology and law, out of them
one shall be a Shia Muslim.
Further, as per Section 6 of the Haj Committee Act, 2002, the term of office of the
members of the Committee (other than the ex-officio members and members filling casual
vacancies) shall be three years, commencing on the day following the publication of the list
of members under section 5:
Provided that the term of the members of the Committee may be extended by the Central
Government by a notification in the Official Gazette for a period not exceeding six months at
a time but, in any case, not exceeding beyond a total period of one year.
(d): The Haj Committee of India (HCoI), a statutory body constituted under the Haj
Committee Act, 2002. The composition of the HCoI is defined under Section 4 of the said
Act, which provides for representation from various States/Union Territories, Muslim
Members of Parliament, Muslim members of State Legislatures, and eminent Muslims. This
statutory composition ensures that the interests of all sections of the Muslim community
across the country are adequately represented.
(e): The Haj Committee of India has the primary responsibility of making arrangements
for Indian Haj pilgrims within India, it closely coordinates with the Ministry of Minority
Affairs, the Consulate General of India (CGI), Jeddah, and other Government agencies such
as the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, and the Ministry of
External Affairs for the smooth and successful conduct of the Haj pilgrimage. Haj Committee
of India coordinates with appropriate Government agencies to ensure integrated planning and
execution of various aspects of the pilgrimage, including flight scheduling and operations,
medical facilities, consular support, and liaison with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for
arrangements in Makkah, Madinah, and other pilgrimage sites.
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