India suspends tourist visas issued to Chinese nationals

India has suspended tourist visas issued to Chinese nationals, said the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

In a circular issued on April 20 regarding India, the IATA told its member airlines that "tourist visas issued to nationals of China (People's Republic) are no longer valid," reports our New Delhi correspondent.

The IATA, a global body with nearly 290 member-airline, also said tourist visas with a validity of 10 years are no longer valid.

India has repeatedly notified China of the plight of about 22,000 Indian students enrolled in Chinese universities who returned home due to the Covid-19 pandemic and are now unable to go back for physical classes because Chinese authorities are not allowing them to do so.