Mon Apr 21 05:49:00 UTC 2025: ## India Responds Calmly to Australia’s Proposed Student Visa Crackdown
**New Delhi, April 21, 2025** – The Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has responded to Australia’s proposed crackdown on international student visas, stating that visa issuance remains a sovereign prerogative of individual nations. This follows a proposal by Australian opposition leader Peter Dutton to reduce the number of international students by 80,000, citing concerns about housing shortages.
Mr. Dutton’s proposal, announced on April 6th, aims to alleviate pressure on Australia’s housing market, which has seen a 25% rise in median rent since the last election. He highlighted a significant increase in international student numbers, from 520,000 to over 850,000, coinciding with this rental increase. The proposed cuts would also include a 25% reduction in overall permanent migration.
Despite this proposed crackdown, India recently surpassed China as the top source country for student visas in Australia. In February 2025 alone, over 2,700 Indian students received visas. Popular fields of study for Indian students in Australia include IT, engineering, business, and healthcare.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that India views visa matters as the sovereign responsibility of each country. While the proposed Australian policy may affect Indian students, the MEA’s response indicates a measured approach, prioritizing diplomatic channels over immediate confrontation.
First Piper 