Canada Witnesses 86% Drop in Indian Students Within Three Months: Only 14,000 Enroll

The number of Indian students going to study in Canada has decreased by 86%. The two countries have been under tension since the killing of Khalistan militant Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June last year. This is also the reason for the decreasing number of students. Canada’s Immigration Minister has given this information.

Sharp Decline in Study Permits for Indian Students in Canada

Between July and September last year, more than 1 lakh 8 thousand Indian children were given study permits. At the same time, between October and December, only 14,910 Indian children applied for study permits. In this way, the number of students has decreased by 86 percent.

Canada’s Immigration Minister Mark Miller said – the number of study permits issued by Canada to Indian students has decreased sharply. This decline increased to 86 percent in the last quarter of 2023. Fewer Indian students have applied because of the diplomatic row between the two countries following the killing of a Sikh terrorist in Canada. Currently, this number is unlikely to increase anytime soon.

Impact of Diplomatic Row on Diplomatic Presence and Information Flow

One reason is that there are no Canadian diplomats in India On 18 September 2023, Canada accused India of killing a terrorist Nijjar. India rejected the allegation and asked for the return of 41 Canadian diplomats. On October 20, Canada expelled 41 of its 62 diplomats from India.

“Our relationship with India has been affected and our ability to approve new applications has been halved,” said Minister Mark Miller. Now there are only 21 Canadian officers working in India. India was already understaffed in Canada. Due to the lack of diplomats, students could not get much information related to studying in Canada.

Killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar and Subsequent Diplomatic Fallout

Nijjar was killed on June 18, 2023, On the evening of June 18, 2023, two youths shot at Khalistan Tiger Force chief terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in the parking lot of a gurdwara in British Columbia, Canada. Nijjar died on the spot. Nijjar was declared a fugitive by India and there was a reward of Rs 10 lakh on him. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused India of murder.