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Time of India
3 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Haj Committee reopens free UPSC coaching centre in Mumbai after one year closure
MUMBAI: After a closure for one year, the Haj Committee of India reopened its free residential coaching centre for UPSC aspirants at the Haj House here. The residential coaching centre was closed in December 2023. Recently, the Haj Panel issued a notice inviting applications for admission to the free residential coaching centre for Civil Services exams, both preliminary and main (2026), for 100 seats. For the first time, the coaching programme, being funded entirely by the money of Hajis kept as a corpus with the Haj Committee, is allocating 20% of seats to candidates of other minorities, SCs, STs, and OBCs. The notice issued by Haj Committee CEO Shanvas C recently stated that candidates will be selected after a written examination and personal interview. June 21 is the last day for submission of applications, while the entrance exam is scheduled for July 13, with essay writing and personal interviews on July 24 and 25. The admission process will be completed on July 31, while classes will commence on August 11. Started in 2009, the coaching centre's closure had drawn flak from community leaders. Subsequently, many, including Congress MLA Amin Patel and Congress functionary Mudassar Patel approached Congress Rajya Sabha Member Imran Pratapgadhi, who raised the issue in Parliament. Mudassar Patel,said that he personally met both Pratapgadhi and former CEO of Haj Committee and requested them to restart the centre. "On my request, Imran Pratapgadhi raised the issue in the Rajya Sabha. The matter reached Mr Rijiju and he approved reopening of the coaching centre which is going to help underprivileged candidates," said Mudassar Patel. Amin Patel too welcomed the move. "We are grateful to Imran Pratapgadhi too for raising the issue, which convinced minority affairs minister Kiran Rijiju to allow the Haj Committee to restart the coaching centre," said Patel. Former CEO of Haj Committee Md Owais, who was instrumental in starting the coaching centre in 2009, said: "Many candidates from underprivileged backgrounds who cannot afford expensive coaching at private institutes benefited. This is great news that the Haj Committee has restarted this centre, which will benefit the poor candidates."
Indian Express
28-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Haj Committee revives coaching programme for Muslim UPSC aspirants
A year after shutting down its residential coaching facility for Muslim civil services aspirants, the Haj Committee of India (HCI) has announced the reopening of its Mumbai-based training centre. The revamped programme will now have 20 per cent seats reserved for candidates from other minority communities as well as Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (ST) and Other Backward Classes (OBCs). A formal notification has been issued, inviting applications for the upcoming batch aimed at preparing aspirants for the 2026 Civil Services Examination. An entrance test will be held on July 13 simultaneously across 21 centres in India. This will be followed by an essay-writing round and personal interviews to select 100 candidates. The coaching programme will commence on August 11 this year in Mumbai. According to the notification dated May 22, which was issued by HCI CEO Shanavas C, out of the total 100 seats, 80 per cent are reserved for candidates from the Muslim community, while the remaining 20 per cent will be for other minority groups, including SCs, STs and OBCs. While non-Muslim candidates were previously provided accommodation informally during exams, this is the first time HCI has formally included seats for other minorities in its selection process. Shanavas C said, 'This decision was taken by the committee last year to make the institute more inclusive. It is also expected to encourage a competitive atmosphere and healthy learning environment for civil services aspirants.' The institute was established in 2009 to provide affordable residential coaching to Muslim students — the only one of its kind run by the Haj committee. Since then, sources said, about 1,500 students have undergone coaching here with 25 of them getting selected for the civil services. The coaching is funded by donations the Haj Committee receives from pilgrims going for Haj. Following a cut in student intake that led to protests in 2022 and an admissions cycle delayed by the pandemic, the residential coaching institute in Mumbai was closed in December 2023. The Indian Express had reported it in July 2024. The HCI at that time had maintained it was only a temporary suspension along with assurances that it will restart soon. In preparation for the new academic cycle, several meetings have been held. Shanavas C said, 'The government has expressed its support. In fact, we are considering starting similar centres in other states where necessary infrastructure is ready.' While accommodation and coaching will be provided free of cost, food will be subsidised. Deputy CEO Sadafat Ali said, 'We are currently working on formalising a policy for food-related expenses.' The decision to reopen the institute has been welcomed by many. Shahebaj Maniyar, a senior research scholar at Mumbai University and former Haj House student, said, 'The institute has been instrumental in helping many Muslim candidates, especially girls, to pursue their dream of joining the civil services. Families trusted the institution, which played a big role in their decision to allow daughters to stay and study there.' The age limit for applicants has been capped at 30 years, even though UPSC allows age relaxation up to 35 for OBC and 37 for SC/ST candidates. In response, HCI said the age limit has been intentionally set to support younger aspirants and not to align with UPSC age-limit.
Hans India
17-05-2025
- Hans India
CM flags off buses for Haj pilgrims
Hyderabad: Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy gave a send-off to the batch of the Haj pilgrims of Telangana. Revanth Reddy flagged off the buses which are carrying the pilgrims at the Haj House, at Nampally, on Friday. He was accompanied by Mohammed Ali Shabbir, Advisor to Government, (SC, ST, BC & Minorities Welfare), Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi and Rajya Sabah MP Anil Kumar Yadav. While addressing the pilgrims and their family members, the Chief Minister expressed his hope that this sacred journey would bring them profound spiritual peace and joy. He emphasized that the state government has ensured that all necessary facilities are available for the pilgrims, including transportation, accommodation, and medical support, all organized in collaboration with the Haj Committee of India. Emotional scenes were witnessed as relatives gathered in large numbers to bid farewell to the pilgrims. Addressing the pilgrims, Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi urged them to uphold the sanctity of the holy sites. 'Respect Mecca and Madina. Do not complain. Maintain patience and devote most of your time to prayers and worship,' he advised. He also appealed to the younger pilgrims to assist and guide the elderly during the pilgrimage. Telangana State Haj Committee Chairman, Syed Ghulam Afzal Biyabani Khusro Pasha and Sajjad Ali, Executive Officer extended best wishes for a safe and spiritually fulfilling journey. The Haj Committee made all the arrangements, including food and accommodation for the pilgrims who had reached there from various districts of Telangana. The Haj camp, which began on April 26, will continue for 32 days. Various departments provided services like vaccination, passport distribution, customs clearance, baggage screening and provision of currency exchange under one roof. Boarding passes for the pilgrims were also issued at Haj House. Faheem Qureshi, Chairman, TMREIS, Syed Azamthullah Hussaini, chairman TG Waqf Board, Mohammed Obaidullah Kotwal chairman TG Minority Finance Corporation, Md. Mujeebuddin, Md. Layeeq, Members TG Haj Committee, Irfan Shareef, AEO, TG Haj Committee, Md. Samiuddin Asst. Director, Minority Welfare and others were present.
Time of India
13-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
SpiceJet to resume Haj flights from Srinagar on May 14 following airport reopening
SpiceJet on Tuesday announced it will resume its from Srinagar starting May 14, with two flights scheduled to depart for Medina. This comes a day after Srinagar airport reopened for civilian flights following a temporary shutdown amid the recent military tensions between India and Pakistan. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now 'SpiceJet will resume its Haj 2025 operations from Srinagar, operating two flights to Medina using wide-body Airbus A340 aircraft, each accommodating 324 passengers,' the airline said in a statement as quoted by news agency PTI. The carrier is set to facilitate the travel of approximately 15,500 Haj pilgrims this year. Earlier this month, SpiceJet confirmed plans to operate 45 Haj flights in the first phase, connecting Gaya, Srinagar, Guwahati, and Kolkata with destinations in Saudi Arabia, including Medina and Jeddah. In addition to the special Haj services, SpiceJet will also resume its regular scheduled flights to Srinagar starting Tuesday. Haj 2025 is scheduled to take place between June 4 and 9. This year, one in every 18 pilgrims globally will be from India. Saudi Arabia allocates pilgrimage quotas to each country based on the proportion of the Muslim population. The total quota for India in 2025 stands at 1,75,025 pilgrims, making it the third-largest contingent globally, following Indonesia and Pakistan, which have the largest Muslim populations. Out of India's total quota, 1,22,518 seats were allotted to the Haj Committee of India, while 52,507 were designated for private tour operators. However, private tour operators failed to complete the required formalities, such as accommodation bookings, within the set timeline. As a result, their quota was cancelled due to logistical constraints.
