logo
IELTS centres in Bathinda close biz after changes in Canada's immigration policies

IELTS centres in Bathinda close biz after changes in Canada's immigration policies

Time of India01-05-2025

1
2
Bathinda: As the changes in immigration policies by the Canadian govt have seriously affected student visas and
post-graduate work permits
(PGWP), the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) centres here are shutting down. Many involved in the business due to the heavy rush of youths aiming to visit Canada are now turning towards other ventures, as the immigration business is no longer lucrative.
The trend can be gauged from the fact that the Bathinda district administration cancelled the licences of six such centres upon the written requests of the centre owners, even though the licences were valid until as late as 2028.
The licences were cancelled under Section 8(1) of the Punjab Travel Professionals Regulation Act, 2013, which outlines the procedure for surrendering a travel agent's licence. It states that a licensed travel agent can surrender their licence by giving two months' notice to the competent authority. Once the notice period expires, the licence is automatically cancelled.
When there was a rush of students to Canada, such centres mushroomed in every nook and corner of even small towns. They had even appeared in villages. Bathinda, after Jalandhar and Moga, was considered a hub for such centres, and students from far-off places used to visit Bathinda daily to receive coaching. Even the PGs mushroomed in hundreds. However, after the changes in immigration policies, a lot changed, and centres have started closing down, affecting many ancillary businesses.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Ranger Sees Strange Creature On Riverbank. He Says, 'Oh My God,' When He Realizes What It Really Is
Cleverst
Undo
Bathinda deputy commissioner Showkat Ahmad Parray said the owners of six centres applied for the cancellation of licences under the Punjab Travel Professionals Regulation Act.
E-School, run by Rupinder Singh, had an IELTS licence until Dec 14, 2027. Language Seekers, run by Amandeep Singh, had an IELTS licence until April 12, 2028.
Likewise, Sky Feather had an IELTS licence until Nov 10, 2027. EFS Global had a licence for consultancy and IELTS until July 1, 2026.
Sky Dreams had an IELTS licence until Oct 9, 2027. The Leaf IELTS and Immigration had a licence for consultancy, IELTS, and ticketing until Sept 2, 2028.
The operators stated that they closed their respective centres and wanted to exit the business, requesting the cancellation of their licences. While their licences have been cancelled, the centre operators are liable to address the complaints, if any, against them.
MSID:: 120698795 413 |

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

'India projected to maintain fastest growth rate': World Bank holds FY26 growth at 6.3%; global growth rate forecast cut to 2.3%
'India projected to maintain fastest growth rate': World Bank holds FY26 growth at 6.3%; global growth rate forecast cut to 2.3%

Time of India

time12 minutes ago

  • Time of India

'India projected to maintain fastest growth rate': World Bank holds FY26 growth at 6.3%; global growth rate forecast cut to 2.3%

India will remain the fastest-growing major economy in 2025–26 with a projected GDP expansion of 6.3%, the World Bank said in its latest Global Economic Prospects report, while warning that rising global trade barriers and weaker demand from key export partners are likely to dampen external sector momentum. The projection for India remains unchanged from the World Bank's April estimate but marks a downward revision from the earlier January forecast of 6.7%. The multilateral lender cited subdued industrial growth and soft export demand as key reasons for the downgrade, though construction, services and rural consumption were seen holding steady, PTI reported. 'India is projected to maintain the fastest growth rate among the world's largest economies,' the World Bank stated, noting that even with the pressures on trade, the Indian economy's fundamentals remain relatively strong. The global outlook, however, was more pessimistic. The World Bank cut its forecast for global GDP growth in 2025 to 2.3%, down from 2.7% in January. It described this as the weakest performance in 17 years outside of full-blown recessions, attributing the slowdown to policy uncertainty and fragmentation in trade relations—particularly amid heightened tariff actions by the US under President Donald Trump. The Bank also said that average global growth in the first seven years of the 2020s could be the slowest since the 1960s if current conditions persist. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trade Bitcoin & Ethereum – No Wallet Needed! IC Markets Start Now Undo Around 70% of global economies saw their forecasts revised down across all regions and income levels. For India, the World Bank expects GDP growth to accelerate slightly to an average of 6.6% over FY27–28, aided by a rebound in exports, especially in services, and continued momentum in construction and consumption. Last week, the Reserve Bank of India retained its GDP forecast for FY26 at 6.5%, citing macroeconomic resilience amid global headwinds. World Bank analysts added that resolving current trade disputes—potentially by halving tariff levels—could raise global growth by 0.2 percentage points over 2025 and 2026. They advised developing economies to diversify trade and pursue broader liberalization to counter the fallout from protectionist measures. Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays and public holidays . AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now

World Bank retains India's FY26 growth at 6.3% as trade tensions bite countries globally
World Bank retains India's FY26 growth at 6.3% as trade tensions bite countries globally

Time of India

time28 minutes ago

  • Time of India

World Bank retains India's FY26 growth at 6.3% as trade tensions bite countries globally

The World Bank on Tuesday pegged India's economic growth projection at a lower level of 6.3 per cent for 2025-26 due to pressure on exports emanating from global uncertainties, though the country will remain the fastest growing major global economy. In April, the World Bank had lowered India's growth projection for 2025-26 to 6.3 per cent from its January forecast of 6.7 per cent. According to the World Bank's latest Global Economic Prospects report, heightened trade tensions and policy uncertainty are expected to drive global growth down this year to its slowest pace since 2008 outside of outright global recessions. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Switch to UnionBank Rewards Card UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo (with agency inputs)

Trade tremors deepen: World Bank slashes global growth forecast to 2.3% for 2025; warns of long-term hit from tariffs, inflation
Trade tremors deepen: World Bank slashes global growth forecast to 2.3% for 2025; warns of long-term hit from tariffs, inflation

Time of India

time33 minutes ago

  • Time of India

Trade tremors deepen: World Bank slashes global growth forecast to 2.3% for 2025; warns of long-term hit from tariffs, inflation

Global growth will slow sharply this year as trade disruptions triggered by sweeping US tariffs increase uncertainty and fragment markets, the World Bank warned in its latest economic outlook released Tuesday. The multilateral lender cut its 2025 global GDP growth forecast to 2.3%, down from the 2.7% estimated in January, citing a weakening trade environment and deteriorating investor sentiment, AFP reported. That would mark the slowest pace of non-recessionary expansion in nearly two decades. 'This is the weakest performance in 17 years, outside of outright global recessions,' said Indermit Gill, chief economist of the World Bank Group, in a press briefing. Meanwhile, World Bank pegged India's economic growth projection at a lower level of 6.3 per cent for 2025-26 due to pressure on exports emanating from global uncertainties, though the country will remain the fastest growing major global economy. In April, the World Bank had lowered India's growth projection for 2025-26 to 6.3 per cent from its January forecast of 6.7 per cent. The World Bank said high levels of policy uncertainty—driven by US President Donald Trump's aggressive tariff regime—were dragging down both growth and inflation expectations. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 경상남도 거주자 전용: 무료 영웅 캐릭터를 받으세요! 레이드 섀도우 레전드 Undo Trump's 10% import tariff, rolled out in April and targeting nearly all US trade partners, has since been suspended temporarily until July. The tariff war with China has also paused, but prospects for a durable truce remain unclear. 'Without a swift course correction, the harm to living standards could be deep,' Gill cautioned. Developing economies face slower recovery While advanced economies have seen a steeper cut in their growth forecasts, the World Bank noted that emerging markets—particularly commodity exporters—are facing a damaging mix of low prices and market volatility. Roughly 60% of developing nations are commodity exporters and are now grappling with what Gill called a 'very nasty combination' of falling prices and unpredictable global demand. The bank projects global growth to average just 2.5% for the remainder of the decade through 2029, making it the slowest ten-year growth rate since the 1960s. By 2027, the per capita GDP of high-income countries is expected to return to its pre-pandemic trajectory. But for developing nations—excluding China—per capita output is projected to be 6% below pre-Covid forecasts, Gill said. 'Except for China, it could take these economies about two decades to recoup the economic losses of the 2020s,' he warned. Despite the grim outlook, the World Bank stressed that decisive policy moves could still avert permanent damage. 'If the right policy actions are taken, this problem can be made to go away with limited long-term damage,' Gill said. The report urged G20 economies to avoid trade fragmentation and suggested that developing nations should reduce tariffs across the board—not just with the US—and harmonise cross-border rules to drive sustainable growth. Tariffs in developing countries are generally higher than in advanced economies, the Bank noted, often due to protectionist strategies or limited sources of government revenue. The World Bank's warning comes amid a series of downgrades by other global agencies. The OECD this month cut its 2025 global growth projection from 3.1% to 2.9%, citing the chilling effects of Trump's trade actions. In April, the IMF lowered its forecast from 3.3% to 2.8%. Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays and public holidays . AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store