Policy for 2025 also mandates one state haj inspector for 150 pilgrims as against 300 in old policy. Haj Suvidha app has been launched to provide info on accommodation & flights.
According to an AFP report, out of the total dead, 323 were Egyptians. Saudi state TV said temperatures rose 51.8 degrees Celsius in the shade at the Grand Mosque in Mecca.
In their petition, several Haj Group Organisers — govt-approved group tour operators that organise the pilgrimage — claimed their certificates & quotas were suspended after they were found eligible.
This is the second consecutive year when Indians will miss going for the annual pilgrimage, owing to travel restrictions that have been put in place because of the Covid pandemic.
India has finalised 58,000 applications for Haj, but needs Saudi govt to give the sanctioned quota of the final number of people. The pilgrimage is scheduled from 17-22 July.
In January, the govt announced that there would be no subsidy for Haj from this year and the funds saved would be used to provide education to minority communities.
Research paper, however, finds lowest indebtedness level among Muslims at 12.3% & highest among Hindus at 14.9%. Overall national financial inclusion level at 87.2%, indebtedness at 14.7%.
Fresh details of operation conducted by IAF, Army have come out in gazette notification giving citations of those who were awarded Vir Chakra for their bravery.
On 21 Oct, a buzz went up that the govt had released full list of gallantry award recipients along with Op Sindoor citations. I put an AI caddy on the job. It took me into a never-ending rabbit hole.
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