UK PM Theresa May visit: Tight student visa norms on Indian minds, trade ties on British

United Kingdom Prime Minister will be arriving in New Delhi on Sunday on her maiden trade visit since she presumed the office. 
May’s visit is first amongst her attempts to improve trade ties with Commonwealth nations in Post-Brexit England. 

However, her trip to India is likely to be overshadowed by the Indian concerns for tight student visa norms applied last year during her term as Home Secretary. 

According to British media, the number of Indian students halved in British universities in last year. 

The Ministry of External Affairs has reportedly said that India will take up the issue of visa norms with May during her visit. 

Earlier in September, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had raised the issue during a bilateral talk with his counter-part in G20 summit. “The new UK regulations could have negative impact on Indian working professionals wishing to visit UK for short term business visits," MEA spokesperson Vikas Swaroop quoted PM Modi. 

However, British media suspects that May is likely to stay firm of her anti-immigration stand. 

Trade ties: 

A delegation of 40 business leaders will accompany Theresa May on a two-day visit to India on Sunday in which the Prime Minister May hopes to set in motion the possibility of a free trade deal that can be signed as quickly as possible once the UK leaves the EU in 2019.

Theresa May will be focusing her visit on improving the links between the UK and India for small and medium-sized businesses and particularly those in the technology sector, reports said. The British PM will address a technology summit in New Delhi on Monday morning with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The two leaders are also likely to discuss defence, security and economic ties along with visa issues during their meeting. The matter of Vijay Mallaya scandal may also be raised during the meeting, reports said.