In the biggest hike in nearly three decades, Saudi Arabia today increased India's annual Haj quota by 34,500, a move welcomed by the National Democratic Alliance government as a 'matter of pleasure'.

Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi and Saudi Arabia's Haj and Umrah Minister Dr Mohammad Saleh bin Taher Benten inked an agreement in this regard in Jeddah today, increasing the size of India's Haj quota from 1,36,020 to 1,70,520.

According to a statement issued by Minister of State for Minority Affairs (Independent Charge) Naqvi, it is the 'biggest increase' in quota for Haj pilgrims after 1988.

The latest increase in quota will be effective from the current year.

The Saudi authorities had five years ago slashed quotas for foreign pilgrims coming from each country by 20 per cent in view of safety of the devotees as they undertook expansion of Grand Mosque there.

The NDA government has started issuing Haj applications from January 2. The last date for submission of applications is January 24.