Several universities in Australia have imposed restrictions on student applications from six Indian states: Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Jammu & Kashmir. This decision stems from growing concerns about the rise in fraudulent visa applications from these regions. According to Australia’s Department of Home Affairs, nearly 24.3% of Indian student visa applications were flagged as potentially fraudulent or not genuine, prompting universities to tighten their admission processes and review applications more carefully.

The restrictions, however, are not uniformly applied across all Australian institutions, with some universities taking independent action based on internal assessments and directives issued to their education agents. The primary concern is that certain applicants may be using student visas as a means to migrate, rather than for the purpose of genuine education.

Despite this, the Australian High Commission in New Delhi has denied claims of an official ban or specific restrictions on students from these states. They have reiterated that the Australian Government is processing student visa applications in accordance with global standards and appreciates the valuable contributions made by Indian students to Australian society.

This move has led to confusion and frustration among legitimate applicants, with fears that these restrictions may harm the educational relationship between India and Australia.