Jammu and Kashmir’s annual Hajj quota has remained underutilised in recent years as rising pilgrimage costs and economic pressures have led to a decline in applications from the Union Territory. This year, the Jammu and Kashmir Hajj Committee received around 4,700 applications against its allotted quota of 7,983 seats, leaving a significant number of seats unfilled. According to Dr Shujaat Ahmad Qureshi, Executive Officer of the J&K Hajj Committee, the application process for Hajj concluded on July 20, with only 4,700 people registering for the pilgrimage.
He said increasing expenses, inflation and financial challenges faced by families were among the key reasons behind the decline in demand. Qureshi said the estimated cost of undertaking Hajj in 2027 could rise to around ₹4.50 lakh, making the pilgrimage increasingly expensive for many aspiring pilgrims. The increase in travel costs, accommodation expenses and other related charges has affected the ability of several people to participate, officials said. The decline marks a significant shift from previous years when demand for Hajj seats in Jammu and Kashmir was much higher than the available quota.
In 2023, the committee received nearly 14,500 applications against a quota of 7,981 seats. Due to the high demand, the Union Territory had requested additional seats from other states, allowing around 12,000 pilgrims from J&K to undertake the pilgrimage that year. However, the number of applicants has steadily decreased since then. The committee received around 7,000 applications in 2024, followed by approximately 3,700 applications in 2025 and nearly 4,600 applications in 2026. This year’s figure of around 4,700 applications indicates that the trend of lower participation has continued.
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Officials have linked the reduction in applications to multiple factors, including rising inflation, higher travel-related expenses and the discontinuation of the Hajj subsidy, which earlier provided financial assistance to pilgrims. The removal of the subsidy has increased the overall cost burden for many applicants, particularly those from economically weaker sections. The Hajj pilgrimage, one of the five pillars of Islam, attracts millions of Muslims from around the world every year. In India, pilgrims are selected through a process managed by the Haj Committee of India and state-level committees, with quotas allocated to different regions based on population and other criteria.
For Jammu and Kashmir, where Hajj has traditionally witnessed strong participation, the falling number of applicants has raised concerns among officials and community representatives. They have highlighted the need to examine ways to make the pilgrimage more affordable and accessible for residents who wish to undertake the religious journey. The J&K Hajj Committee is expected to continue monitoring application trends and the financial challenges faced by prospective pilgrims. With pilgrimage costs projected to remain high, affordability is likely to remain a key factor influencing participation in future Hajj seasons.
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