New Delhi: The number of Indian students applying for study permits in Canada has come down sharply following a diplomatic dispute between India and Canada over the murder of a Khalistani terrorist, a top Canadian official told Reuters. As per official data, there has been an 86 per cent drop in study permits issued to Indians in the fourth quarter of 2023. Around 14,910 students were issued study permits in late last year which is a huge drop from the earlier 108,940 students.
Indians formed the largest group of international students in Canada in 2022 with more than 41 per cent or 225,835 of all permits going to them in that year. The number of study permits for Indian students, however, is unlikely to rebound soon, believes Immigration Minister Marc Miller. “Our relationship with India has really halved our ability to process a lot of applications from India,” Miller added according to Reuters.
“I can’t tell you about how the diplomatic relationship will evolve, particularly if police were to lay charges,” Miller was quoted as saying that there may not be any light at the end of the tunnel soon.
Counselor for the High Commission of India in Ottawa, C Gurus Ubramanian said that several Indian students are now looking at other options besides Canada because of concerns regarding a “lack of residential and adequate teaching facilities” at some Canadian universities, the news agency reported.
International students bring about 22 billion Canadian dollars or 16.4 billion dollars annually and the reduction in the decrease in study permits is a huge blow to the institutions.
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