Key Details
Canada's Policy Changes
Study permits: Canada is progressively reducing the annual cap on new international study permits.
Higher financial requirement: Indian students must demonstrate a minimum CAD 22,895 annually towards living expenses.
Post-study work: Eligibility for the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) has been narrowed.
India's Higher-Education Response
Quality improvement: Infrastructure, accreditation, research, innovation and digital learning continue to be strengthened.
Global standing: 52 Indian institutions feature in the QS World University Rankings 2027, including 13 among the global top 550.
Foreign campuses: UGC has issued 16 Letters of Intent to 15 foreign higher-education institutions to establish campuses in India, while five universities have been approved to establish offshore campuses in GIFT City.
Academic reforms: Joint, dual and twinning degrees, Research and Development Cells, Professor of Practice, internship-embedded degrees, UTSAH Portal and faculty development initiatives are being expanded.
Support for Students Abroad
Indian Missions conduct orientation programmes, outreach events and Open House sessions.
Students are encouraged to register with Indian Missions and the MADAD Portal.
Student Welfare Officers and the Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF) provide assistance during emergencies.
Government Attributes Changing Student Choices to Canada's Revised International Student Policies
Replying to a Lok Sabha Unstarred Question, the Ministry of Education stated that the reported decline in Indian students opting for higher education in Canada during 2026 is primarily linked to changes in Canada's international student policies. These include progressively lower caps on new study permits, higher proof-of-funds requirements and narrower eligibility for the Post-Graduation Work Permit.
The Government also noted that overseas education remains an individual choice influenced by affordability, access to education loans, preferred fields of study and exposure to international academic environments. Changes in immigration rules and post-study employment opportunities can therefore significantly influence students' destination preferences.
India Is Positioning Domestic Higher Education as a Global Alternative
Alongside explaining changing overseas study patterns, the Government highlighted a broader strategy to strengthen India's higher-education ecosystem under the vision of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. Measures include upgrading public institutions, expanding research and innovation, strengthening accreditation and improving digital access.
The Government pointed to India's improved representation in the QS World University Rankings 2027, the expansion of the country's innovation ecosystem, and the growing presence of foreign universities through campuses established under the UGC Regulations, 2023 and the IFSCA Regulations, 2022.
The reply also highlighted reforms such as joint, dual and twinning degree programmes, internship-embedded education, Research and Development Cells, the Professor of Practice initiative, the UTSAH Portal and the Malaviya Mission Teachers Training Programme, reflecting an effort to make Indian higher education more internationally connected and globally competitive.
Indian Missions Continue to Support Students Studying Abroad
The Government outlined several mechanisms through which Indian Missions support students overseas. These include engagement with foreign governments and universities, orientation programmes, consular outreach, Open House sessions, social media advisories and collaboration with diaspora organisations.
Students are encouraged to register with their nearest Indian Mission and on the MADAD Portal to facilitate timely grievance redressal. Missions have also appointed Student Welfare Officers, while the Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF) provides need-based assistance to Indian citizens, including students, facing emergencies abroad.
What Is a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP)?
A Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) allows eligible international graduates in Canada to work after completing approved academic programmes. Changes to PGWP eligibility can significantly influence the attractiveness of Canada as a study destination by affecting graduates' employment opportunities and longer-term migration prospects.
Policy Relevance
Changing Global Student Mobility: Immigration policies, study-permit caps and post-study work opportunities are increasingly shaping international student flows alongside academic quality.
Internationalising Indian Higher Education: The Government's response reinforces NEP 2020's objective of providing globally competitive education within India through stronger research ecosystems, international collaborations and foreign university campuses.
Better Student Decision-Making: Timely information on visa rules, education costs and employment opportunities can help prospective students make more informed overseas education choices.
Strengthening Overseas Student Welfare: Orientation programmes, Mission outreach, Student Welfare Officers, the MADAD Portal and the ICWF seek to improve support for Indian students during their studies abroad.
Measuring Domestic Competitiveness: The long-term success of India's higher-education reforms will depend not only on international rankings but also on teaching quality, research output, industry engagement and graduate employability.
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders: How should India assess whether foreign university campuses established under NEP 2020 are delivering educational outcomes comparable to studying overseas?
Follow the Full Lok Sabha Reply Here: Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1360: Decline in Indian Students Pursuing Higher Education in Canada