The authorities in Saudi Arabia have allotted a quota of 1.7 lakh for Indian pilgrims for the upcoming Hajj pilgrimage this year.

India had formally request for an additional 10,000 slots for the growing number of pilgrims from the country, which maintains a sizable Muslim population. India’s Minister of State for External Affairs E. Ahamed discussed the arrangements for the pilgrimage this year with Saudi Minister of Hajj Bandar Bin Mohammed Al Hajjar on Sunday. The two also finalised the Annual Bilateral Hajj Agreement between the two countries.

Indian officials are expecting an increase in the number of applications for Hajj in India this year and the government had thus requested for expanding the quota by 10,000. The two leaders also discussed arrangements for the previous year’s Hajj and ways to improve the arrangements for the large pilgrimage that attracts people from around the world.

Mr. Ahamed was accompanied by Hamid Ali Rao, Ambassador of India to Saudi Arabia, and Consul General of India Faiz Ahmad Kidwai. He also met Rafat Badr, Chairman, South Asian Moassassa in Mecca and discussed the arrangements for the annual pilgrimage in the Arabian country. He looked upon the issue of hiring the places to stay for Indian pilgrims.