UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — ₹10,000 airfare increase for Haj pilgrims draws flak

Q1. The Haj Committee of India, which issued the April 2026 circular imposing an additional ₹10,000 airfare on Haj pilgrims, functions under the administrative control of which one of the following Union Ministries?

  • A. Ministry of External Affairs
  • B. Ministry of Home Affairs
  • C. Ministry of Minority Affairs
  • D. Ministry of Civil Aviation

Q2. For Haj 2026, through how many embarkation points across India are the operations of the Haj Committee of India being conducted?

  • A. 10
  • B. 14
  • C. 17
  • D. 21

Q3. With reference to the Haj 2026 airfare arrangement compared to the preceding policy regime, consider the following statements: 1. The Haj subsidy on airfare was fully abolished in 2022, prior to which the Union Government bore a part of the pilgrims' airfare cost. 2. For Haj 2026, the Haj Committee of India imposed a uniform differential airfare of ₹10,000 per pilgrim, irrespective of the embarkation point. 3. The original demand by airlines of about USD 300–400 per pilgrim was scaled down to about USD 100 after negotiations led by the Union Ministry of Minority Affairs. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The Haj subsidy on airfare was fully abolished in 2022, prior to which the Union Government bore a part of the pilgrims' airfare cost.
  2. For Haj 2026, the Haj Committee of India imposed a uniform differential airfare of ₹10,000 per pilgrim, irrespective of the embarkation point.
  3. The original demand by airlines of about USD 300–400 per pilgrim was scaled down to about USD 100 after negotiations led by the Union Ministry of Minority Affairs.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q4. With reference to the institutional architecture of Haj pilgrimage from India as relevant to Haj 2026, consider the following: 1. The Haj Committee of India is a statutory body constituted under the Haj Committee Act, 2002. 2. India's annual Haj quota stands at 1,75,025 pilgrims. 3. The Haj quota is shared between the Haj Committee of India and Private Tour Operators in the ratio 70:30. 4. The Haj Committee of India functions under the administrative control of the Ministry of External Affairs. Which of the statements given above are correctly identified?

  1. The Haj Committee of India is a statutory body constituted under the Haj Committee Act, 2002.
  2. India's annual Haj quota stands at 1,75,025 pilgrims.
  3. The Haj quota is shared between the Haj Committee of India and Private Tour Operators in the ratio 70:30.
  4. The Haj Committee of India functions under the administrative control of the Ministry of External Affairs.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • B. 1, 2 and 4 only
  • C. 2, 3 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q5. Which one of the following cities serves as the headquarters of the Haj Committee of India, the apex statutory body that issued the April 2026 circular on the ₹10,000 differential airfare?

  • A. New Delhi
  • B. Hyderabad
  • C. Mumbai
  • D. Lucknow