Held in India's capital, New Delhi, the 18th edition of the G20 will draw participation from numerous world leaders, including Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
In an exclusive interview with SBS Punjabi, India's High Commissioner to Australia, Manpreet Vohra, addressed a range of community issues including visa processing delays, most notably the parent visa program - a major concern for many Indian migrants.
Mr Vohra cited the "extraordinary visa backlog" as the primary cause for the delays.
"Time and now we keep raising our concerns for the parent visa program with the (Australian) government. And following the review of the country's current migration system, there will be possible reforms for all visa categories including the permanent parent program," he said.
The Indian high commissioner also addressed the ban implemented by some universities in Victoria and NSW on the recruitment of international students from some Indian states.
"The majority of the students are genuine and they shouldn't suffer because of a few rotten eggs," he said.
A number of Australian universities had previously placed a temporary block on student visa applications from Punjab and Haryana states in north India amid an increase in incomplete and fraudulent documentation.
Outlining the steps being taken to address the issue, Mr Vohra said the Indian High Commission is in contact with these Australian universities.
"It's a short-term blip and only a few institutes have implemented this ban. Things are getting better and the number of Indian international students arrivals have now almost reached pre-COVID levels," he said.
As India gears up to host the annual gathering of the Group of 20 industrialized and developing nations, the capital city is undergoing an elaborate makeover. Source: AP / Manish Swarup/AP
"We've reached the milestone of one lakh (one hundred thousand) mark in terms of population in Australia and the extravagant celebrations of various festivals together testify to the harmony between various Indian communities," he said.
Click on the audio to listen to the interview with Indian High Commissioner to Australia, Manpreet Vohra in Punjabi.
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Indian High Commissioner to Australia, Manpreet Vohra.
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