Union Minister for Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi announced the onset of the online application for Hajj 2022. The last date of applying for the pilgrimage is January 31, 2022.

Naqvi said the entire application process will be 100 per cent digital/online and prospective pilgrims can apply through the Hajj mobile app.

Indian Hajj pilgrims will promote 'vocal for local' and go there with indigenous products, Naqvi said. Moreover, earlier the pilgrims bought essentials in Saudi Arabia in foreign currency but this time, most of these goods will be purchased in India in Indian currency.

These goods will be available at almost 50 per cent lower prices in comparison to their cost in Saudi Arabia and will be given to pilgrims at their respective embarkation points in India.

India sends 2 lakh pilgrims every year to Saudi Arabia and this arrangement will help save crores of rupees of the pilgrims, the minister said.

The selection process of the pilgrims will be done as per coronavirus protocols and norms to be decided by Indian and Saudi Arabian governments, he said. The embarkation points have been reduced from 21 to 10 for next year. Guwahati city is one of the embarkation points.

Women can also apply under the without Mehram category (male companion), under which they will be exempted from the lottery system.