Thiruvananthapuram:
The Centre has agreed to raise Kerala's Haj quota by 1031 this year, enabling a total of 7518 pilgrims from the state to fly to Mecca to perform the pilgrimage.
According to state Industries Minister PK Kunhalikutty, a communication from the central authorities in this regard was received on Wednesday.
Mr Kunhalikutty, in charge of Wakf affairs in the state, had earlier written to External Affairs Minister SM Krishna for enhancing the state's Haj quota, which stood far below the number of aspirants.
The state also suggested that the number of applicants should be the prime criterion while deciding the number of pilgrims from each state, rather than present system of population-based Haj quota system.