New Delhi and Riyadh have signed the Bilateral Haj Agreement 2024, finalizing a total quota of 1,75,025 pilgrims from India for the upcoming Haj pilgrimage in 2024. The agreement was signed by India's Minister of Minority Affairs Smriti Zubin Irani and MoS for External Affairs V Muraleedharan with Saudi Minister for Hajj and Umrah Tawfiq bin Fawzan Al-Rabiah. Out of the finalized quota, 1,40,020 seats have been reserved for pilgrims to proceed through the Haj Committee of India, while 35,005 pilgrims can proceed through private operators. The Saudi side appreciated India's digital initiatives, including the Ladies without Mehram (LWM) initiative, which encouraged more women to apply for Haj pilgrimage. The LWM initiative, introduced in Haj 2018, aimed to increase the participation of Muslim women by removing the need for accompanying male hajis. The Indian government initially allowed women of 45 years of age or above to apply for Haj without Mehram, but in Haj 2023...