Study Permits To Indian Students Drops After Diplomatic Row: Canada Minister (image-pixabay)

Due to the diplomatic row between the India and Canada, a large drop has been seen in the number of studies permits Canada issued to Indian students, a top Canadian official said to Reuters. This drop came after the expulsion of Canadian diplomats from India who process the permits.

Fewer Indian students thus applied due to the diplomatic row over the killing of the Khalistan separationist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. These factors has led to an 86 percent drop in study permits issued to Indians in the fourth quarter of last year from the previous quarter, to 14,910 from 108,940.

Speaking to the Reuters, Immigration Minister Marc Miller said, “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,” he added.

The dispute between India and Canada was triggered after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s claim in June of evidence linking Indian government agents to murder of Nijjar.

In October, Canada pulled 41 of their diplomats, out of India on orders from New Delhi. In response to Trudeau’s claim, India responded by calling it “absurd” and “motivated”.

Miller said that the government is planning on measures to be implemented to reduce the influx of international students in the first half of the semester by including a possible cap on numbers.

He then added that the government has decided to address “a very generous” program for postgraduate work permits and to crack down on “fly-by-night” universities, called designated learning institutes.

The government is also planning on curbs on the number of off-campus work hours for international students.

India have been largest group of international students in Canada, with over 41% of all permits issued to them in 2022. But the dispute has now forced the students to opt an alternative.