The Indian government has pledged comprehensive support to nearly 400,000 Indian students in Canada, even as Ottawa moves to recalibrate its immigration and student visa policies.

Speaking at a special briefing during the official visit of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney to India, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Secretary (East) P Kumaran said Prime Minister Narendra Modi was informed that Canada is currently home to around four lakh Indian students — twice the number studying in the United States and four times those in the United Kingdom.

“Our consulates and High Commission are in touch with our students and community bodies,” Kumaran said. “They will take all necessary steps, in coordination with Canadian security agencies and law enforcement, to provide all possible assistance to students who face any difficulties.”

Pressure on jobs, housing drives policy shift

Kumaran acknowledged that domestic political pressure in Canada over rising numbers of foreign students has shaped recent policy changes. Concerns over strain on the job market, infrastructure, housing, and public services have led Ottawa to introduce restrictions on future student intake.

“There has been broad popular pressure in Canada that a large influx of foreign students puts pressure on jobs, infrastructure, and citizen services,” he noted, adding that every country has the sovereign right to determine how many international students its systems can accommodate.

Canada is currently undertaking reforms in its visa and immigration policies, particularly in light of what Kumaran described as a “disproportionate hit” to the job market. Pressures on healthcare and housing services have also contributed to the tightening framework.

India seeks partnership, invites Canadian campuses

Even as mobility pathways face recalibration, India is pushing for deeper academic collaboration. Prime Minister Modi has invited Canadian universities to establish campuses in India, signalling a shift towards institutional partnerships and research collaborations.

“There are R&D partnerships being discussed. Multiple alternative approaches are being explored,” Kumaran said. “If opportunities open up again for our youngsters to go abroad in comparable numbers, it will certainly be welcome.”

India and Canada continue to engage through an existing education Memorandum of Understanding, while discussions are underway on additional agreements to facilitate mobility and structured pathways for students.

With nearly four lakh Indian students forming one of the largest international student communities in Canada, New Delhi’s message is clear: while policy landscapes may shift, India will remain actively engaged to safeguard the interests and aspirations of its students abroad.