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India Pledges Support for 400,000 Students in Canada Amid Visa Reforms

India's Ministry of External Affairs has committed to providing all possible assistance to the large community of Indian students in Canada. This comes as Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney noted there are 400,000 Indian students in Canada, a number that has sparked domestic concerns about infrastructure and job markets. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has invited Canadian universities to establish campuses in India as an alternative pathway. Both nations are discussing mobility agreements amidst Canada's ongoing reforms to its visa and immigration policies.

Key Points: India to Assist Students in Canada as Visa Policies Change

  • India pledges assistance to students
  • Canada hosts 400k Indian students
  • New visa restrictions causing pressure
  • PM Modi invites Canadian universities
  • Mobility pathways under discussion
3 min read

"India will provide all possible assistance to students in Canada," says MEA

India's MEA vows full support for Indian students in Canada, addressing new visa restrictions and exploring educational partnerships.

"Our consulates and our High Commission are in touch with our students... to try and provide all possible assistance - P Kumaran, MEA Secretary"

New Delhi, March 2

Ministry of External Affairs Secretary P Kumaran on Monday said that Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney mentioned to Prime Minister Narendra Modi about 400,000 Indian students studying in Canada, which is twice the number in the US and four times the number in the UK.

Kumaran, while speaking at the Special Briefing on the Official Visit of the Prime Minister of Canada to India, said that Indian consulates and High Commissions are in touch with the students and will take all necessary steps to provide all possible assistance to students.

"Our consulates and our High Commission are in touch with our students, our community bodies, and they will take all necessary steps to work with Canadian security agencies and law enforcement to try and provide all possible assistance to students who face any difficulties in Canada," he said.

Kumaran said, "Prime Minister Carney mentioned that there are 400,000 Indian students in Canada studying there, which is twice the number in the US and four times the number in the UK. There's been a broad popular pressure on politics in Canada that too many foreign students coming into Canada puts pressure on the job market, puts pressure on infrastructure and citizen services available in Canada."

"As part of that, they seem to have moved in a direction where there are restrictions coming in terms of the number of students they are willing to take in the future. I suppose it is up to every country to decide how much student intake their systems can handle, and it is up to them to make an assessment based on their own assessed capacities. Our aim is to try to take advantage of high-quality Canadian educational institutions and find ways to partner with them," he added.

Kumaran said that PM Modi invited Canadian universities to set up campuses in India.

"The Prime Minister also invited Canadian universities to set up campuses in India. There are R&D partnerships that are spoken of. So there are these multiple alternate approaches being tried. At some point, if opportunities open up for our youngsters to go back in numbers that are comparable to what we saw in the past, it will be good," he said.

Kumaran said that on account of their job market being disproportionately hit, Canada is currently undertaking reforms in its visa and immigration policies.

"We also understand that Canada is currently undertaking reforms in its visa and immigration policies. There is pressure on medical and housing services, but mobility is something both are working on. There is an education MoU, and we continue to discuss multiple MoUs that speak of mobility pathways between India and Canada," he said.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

R
Rahul R
400,000 students! That's a huge number. While I appreciate the MEA's efforts, I hope the assistance is practical and swift, not just diplomatic talk. Students face real issues with housing, part-time jobs, and sometimes discrimination. Our missions need to be proactive.
A
Aman W
The idea of Canadian universities setting up campuses in India is fantastic. Why spend crores in foreign currency and face so many hardships abroad if we can get the same quality education here? This should be the focus. #StudyInIndia
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Sarah B
It's understandable that Canada needs to manage its intake. Their job market and infrastructure are feeling the strain. The partnership approach mentioned here seems balanced and sensible. Hope it leads to more stable opportunities for students from both countries.
K
Karthik V
Respectfully, I feel the government could do more at home. Instead of just facilitating education abroad, improve our own universities and create more high-quality research opportunities here. The brain drain is real, bhai. Our IITs and IIMs are great, but we need more.
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Divya L
The number is staggering! So many young Indians seeking futures overseas. While support is crucial, students also need better pre-departure guidance about the actual costs, living conditions, and recent policy changes in Canada. The dream shouldn't become a struggle.

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