India Canada Relations: According to a senior Canadian source who spoke with news agency Reuters, the number of study licences Canada granted to Indian students fell precipitously in 2023 as a result of the diplomatic spat between the two nations. The official stated in an interview that he didn’t think the number of Indian study licences would increase very quickly.
Indian Student Applications Decline Amid Nijjar’s Death
He added that few Indian students applied as a result of a diplomatic dispute following the death of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, and that this was done after India expelled Canadian diplomats who were to handle the permits.
After Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau claimed in June that there was evidence linking Indian government operatives to the death of Nijjar in British Columbia, diplomatic tensions between India and Canada flared.
Dimming Diplomatic Prospects
Immigration Minister Marc Miller remarked in an interview with Reuters, “Our relationship with India has really halved our ability to process a lot of applications from India.” “I can’t tell you about how the diplomatic relationship would evolve, particularly if the police were to lay charges. It’s not something that I see any light at the end of the tunnel on,” Miller said.
Miller remarked, “Right now we have a challenge with the sheer volume” of kids arriving. “It’s just gotten out of control and needs to be reduced – I would say – significantly over a short period of time.” Miller added that other measures, maybe including a cap, would be implemented by the government to reduce the number of foreign students during the first half of this year.
Cracking Down on Deceptive Institutions
He stated that in addition to addressing “a very generous” programme for postgraduate work permits, the government plans to take tough measures against “fly-by-night” universities, also known as designated learning institutes. On directives from New Delhi, Canada was compelled to remove 41 diplomats, or two-thirds of its workforce, from India in October. Furthermore, according to Reuters, the disagreement encouraged Indian students to look into studying abroad.
Unreleased Data Reveals 86% Drop for Indian Students
According to official data that had not been previously released, these reasons caused an 86% decrease in the number of study licences granted to Indians in the fourth quarter of last year compared to the previous quarter, from 108,940 to 14,910.
Indians now make up the largest group of foreign students studying in Canada; in 2022, almost 41% of all permits, or 225,835 students, will go to Indians.
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