Sri Lanka, Nov. 4 -- Canada's clampdown on international students has hit applicants from India particularly hard, government data shows, as what was once a preferred destination loses its allure for Indian students.

Canada lowered the number of international student permits it issues for the second year in a row in early 2025 as part of a broader effort to reduce the number of temporary migrants and address fraud related to student visas.

About 74% of Indian applications for permits to study at Canadian post-secondary institutions in August - the most recent month available - were rejected, compared to about 32% in August 2023, according to immigration department data provided to Reuters.

By contrast, about 40% of study permit applica...