The Haj Committee of India has issued a directive requiring approximately 1.25 lakh selected pilgrims to pay an additional Rs 10,000 in airfare, following a demand from airlines for a fare revision due to rising aviation turbine fuel (ATF) costs amid the Middle East crisis. The April 28 circular set a May 15 deadline for payment, despite the earlier fixed airfare package ranging from Rs 90,000 to Rs 1.65 lakh depending on the departure city.
Financial Strain on Pilgrims
Mohd Ilyas, a 60-year-old security guard from Shaheen Bagh, described the sudden demand as a disruption to years of careful planning. He had been saving for Haj for most of his working life, skipping family milestones to build a modest corpus. "I had budgeted every single paisa for Haj 2026 — now this sudden Rs 10,000 demand has left me reeling," he told The Times of India. For many elderly and low-income families, Haj expenses often exceed Rs 4 lakh under the government route, and the additional cost disrupts carefully calibrated budgets that were planned over decades or entire lifetimes.
Government Justification
The revision followed airline demands for a steep fare increase after fuel costs rose during geopolitical instability in the Middle East. Officials said airlines initially sought a hike of more than USD 400 per passenger. After negotiations, the Ministry of Minority Affairs capped the increase at USD 100 (approximately Rs 10,000) and shifted the burden onto pilgrims. The government presented the decision as a containment measure, stating that it prevented a far sharper spike. Officials added that aviation regulators and authorities closely monitored fare trends and acted in "good faith" to ensure continuity of this year's Haj operations despite volatile fuel markets.
Political Backlash
The hike triggered political backlash. All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi called it "exploitation," saying the move penalized pilgrims despite their earlier payments. "Are pilgrims being punished for going through the Haj Committee?" he asked. "Most pilgrims are not wealthy. They save money for years. This is not a luxury." Congress MP Imran Pratapgarhi criticized the move as "utter injustice" and questioned why authorities revised a fixed fare so close to departure schedules.
The Ministry of Minority Affairs maintained that the revision was "transparent and necessary," and said private tour operators had raised fares by even higher margins while government intervention prevented a more severe financial hit. "Various concerns and comments have been observed in several media platforms regarding the increase of Rs 10,000 on Haj airfare. We share the concerns for every pilgrim who saves for years to perform Haj. That is precisely why the Haj Committee negotiated hard on their behalf," the ministry said.
Union Minister's Response
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju said officials understood the emotional significance of Haj, but the system could not avoid global cost pressures. "For countless families, Haj is a once-in-a-lifetime dream nurtured over years. I deeply respect that sentiment… We also can't blame airlines... Through negotiations, we ensured the increase was restricted to just USD 100, saving each pilgrim a significant amount. The decision was taken transparently, in good faith, to ensure no disruption," he said.
Haj Committee Perspective
Delhi Haj Committee chairperson Kausar Jahan told TOI that the government worked to contain costs amid a difficult global environment. "Government negotiated hard to prevent a much larger increase of Rs 30,000-40,000," she said, adding that for pilgrims paying a total package of roughly Rs 4 lakh, the additional amount represented a small fraction of the overall cost.
Background on Subsidies
The government abolished the Haj airfare subsidy in 2018 and shifted the full cost burden onto pilgrims. While some states offer limited assistance, the system largely operates on a cost-recovery basis and remains vulnerable to geopolitical instability, fuel-price volatility, and late airline cost revisions.
The first batch of pilgrims from India departed on April 18, with others preparing to leave in the coming weeks as one of the world's largest religious mobilizations gathers pace. Pilgrims must make the additional payment through the Haj portal, the Haj Suvidha app, or designated bank branches by May 15.
