The Hajj Committee of India has directed all pilgrims for Hajj 2026 to deposit an additional Rs 10,000 towards revised airfare, following a one-time increase approved by the Ministry of Minority Affairs.
According to an official circular issued from Mumbai on April 28, the revision includes an additional USD 100 per pilgrim, applicable uniformly across all embarkation points. The decision comes in response to the ongoing crisis in the Middle East, which has significantly pushed up Aviation Turbine Fuel prices.
Officials stated that airlines had sought a fare hike exceeding USD 400 due to rising operational costs. After consultations and review, authorities approved a partial increase to be borne by pilgrims.
All selected pilgrims have been asked to deposit the differential amount by May 15, 2026, either through the official Hajj portal or the Hajj Suvidha mobile app using digital payment modes, or via designated bank branches including State Bank of India and Union Bank of India using a unique bank reference number.
State and Union Territory Hajj Committees have been instructed to immediately notify pilgrims and ensure compliance within the stipulated deadline.
The Hajj 2026 pilgrimage for Kashmir began with the first batch departing from Srinagar International Airport on April 18, 2026, marking the start of flights for 4,706 pilgrims from Jammu and Kashmir.
This year, a total of 1,75,025 pilgrims are scheduled to travel from India for Hajj. With an additional Rs 10,000 per person, the cumulative financial impact on Indian pilgrims is estimated to be around Rs 175 crore.
