In light of the recent article published by Deccan Chronicle, we at SACA (Study Abroad Consultants Association of India) feel compelled to respond — not just as stakeholders, but as responsible voices representing 1,000+ education consultants across India.

It’s disheartening — but not surprising — to see yet another knee-jerk reaction from a few Australian universities that have banned students from six Indian states, citing concerns over fraudulent documents and visa misuse.

Let’s be honest:
👉 This is not the failure of the students.
👉 This is not the failure of the Indian states.
👉 This is a systemic failure within university-level checks and the GTE (Genuine Temporary Entrant) process itself.

The Real Problem Isn’t Regional — It’s Institutional

These universities have entrusted their GTE validation to a handful of agents — some of the largest in the world — whose unchecked power and questionable practices are at the root of this issue. When fraud is detected, instead of holding these big players accountable, the default response is to press the panic button and shut doors on entire regions like Punjab, Haryana, Gujarat, and others — the very states that have been consistent contributors to Australia’s international education economy.

This blanket ban is not just shortsighted — it’s a classic case of institutional hypocrisy.

SACA’s Stand — Accountability, Not Avoidance

As the National Body representing Study Abroad Consultants nationwide, SACA strongly condemns such sweeping generalisations.

We urge Australian universities to:

• Audit their GTE partners — Identify where the loopholes truly lie.
• Cancel agreements with agents who are repeat offenders, regardless of their size or global presence.
• Introduce transparent, technology-driven checks that empower universities, not middlemen.

Let us be clear — no one supports fraudulent practices. But punishing thousands of genuine students because of the malpractice of a few protected partners is unfair and unsustainable.

Stop the Blame Game. Start System Reform.

Instead of sidelining deserving Indian students, it’s time for universities to take a hard look in the mirror. Fix your internal systems. Create accountability for your international partnerships. Be courageous enough to call out the real culprits, even if they are your own appointed agents.

India remains one of the largest, most sincere, and ambitious student markets in the world. If Australian universities continue to issue blanket bans rather than correct systemic errors, they risk losing credibility — and eventually, the trust of the very students and consultants who have helped build their global standing.

Let’s fix the system. Not scapegoat the states.