At a time when India is mounting pressure on Australia to curb attacks on its nationals in that country, Canberra has subtly conveyed to New Delhi that it's not happy with the "quality" of students its institutions are attracting from India.

It is learnt that Australia has conveyed to India that it's planning to take steps to raise the bar for entry of students in educational institutions. New Delhi is already aware of the fact that many Indians do take the student visa route to migrate to Australia as it is considered an easy way.

Sources said Australia's Minister for Immigration and Citizenship Chris Evans gave an indication of his country's concerns during his meeting with Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi here on Monday. The meeting came against the backdrop of a series of attacks on Indian students in Australia.

With the attacks generating negative publicity, Australia is on an overdrive to reassure authorities here that the country remains a safe place to study. Before Evans, Australia's Secretary of Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations Lisa Paul and a high-level delegation had visited India with a message that Australia is not racist.

Australia's Leader of the Opposition Ted Baillieu, along with a delegation of MPs, is arriving here on Tuesday.

During his meeting with Ravi, Evans repeated his government's stance that the attacks had no racial overtures and were essentially criminal in nature.

He said his “ageing” country was looking at "young" India for medical, engineering and IT professionals and was doing everything to provide a "safe environment" for foreign students and workers.

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