India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Monday during the UN General Assembly. They discussed trade, defense, energy, and other bilateral issues. The talks came after the US raised H-1B visa fees by $100,000, clarified as a one-time charge. Meanwhile, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal met US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer to push for a faster trade deal. The talks aim to resolve tariff disputes and boost bilateral trade, currently $131.84 billion. Officials hope to conclude the first part of the trade agreement by late 2025. (PC: X)

Doctors in the US are likely to be exempted from the new $100,000 H-1B visa fee, a report citing the White House said. The fee, announced by former President Donald Trump, applies only to new petitions and not current visa holders. USCIS clarified that petitions filed before September 21 are not affected. Many Indians on H-1B visas were worried, canceling travel plans and rushing back to the US. H-1B visas allow US companies to hire foreign workers in specialty jobs, especially in tech. The visa lasts three years and can be renewed for another three. (PC: X)

Ankit Sharma, a 46-year-old Indian national and Singapore permanent resident, has been sentenced to 4 years in jail and 6 cane strokes for molesting a woman. The incident took place on March 1, 2023, inside a nursing room at Changi City Point mall. Sharma lured the 31-year-old recruiter, restrained her, and tried to strip her despite her protests. Prosecutors described the act as violent and highly exploitative. Sharma claimed the encounter was consensual, but the court rejected his defence. The judge ruled that his actions were deliberate and forceful, confirming guilt under aggravated outrage of modesty. (PC: India Today)

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. This was their first high-level meeting after Donald Trump imposed 25% tariffs on Indian goods and raised H-1B visa fees to $100,000. The two leaders discussed trade, visas, and investment issues. Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal will soon lead talks in Washington for a possible trade agreement. The US clarified that the higher H-1B fee applies only to new applicants. Both sides agreed to restart dialogue, aiming to strengthen India-US economic ties.

A 13-year-old Afghan boy reached Delhi after hiding in the landing gear of a KAM Airlines flight from Kabul, officials said. The plane landed at Indira Gandhi International Airport around 11 am on Sunday. Airport and airline staff found the boy near the aircraft and questioned him at Terminal 3. He told officials he sneaked into the Kabul airport and hid in the rear central landing gear out of curiosity. A small red speaker was found with him. After security checks, the plane was declared safe. The boy was repatriated to Afghanistan on the same flight that afternoon.

An Emirates flight from San Francisco to India was delayed for three hours after several Indian passengers chose to deboard. The panic followed US President Donald Trump’s order imposing a $100,000 fee on H-1B visas. Videos from inside the plane showed passengers standing in the aisles, some unsure whether to travel. The captain told travellers they could leave if they wished. Social media posts described the scene as “complete chaos.” Meanwhile, Meta and Microsoft urged H-1B workers not to leave the US, warning of possible re-entry issues. The White House later clarified the fee was a one-time charge for new applicants.

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. This was their first top-level meeting since President Donald Trump imposed 50% tariffs on Indian goods and raised H-1B visa fees to $100,000. The talks focused on trade and visa concerns. India and the US are now working toward a trade agreement, with Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal leading negotiations in Washington. Both sides have also resumed discussions on a Bilateral Investment Treaty. Trump recently said he was confident the two countries would reach a deal. (PC: X/ANI)

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said the $100,000 fee on H-1B visas announced by US President Donald Trump may hurt in the short term but could benefit India later. “Let’s not be doomsayers about this H-1B thing… let’s not allow ourselves to constantly feel that we’re the victims,” he told The Wire. Tharoor argued US firms may move jobs to India and Europe since America lacks enough engineers. He called Trump “a law unto himself” but said ties with India could still improve. While Congress leaders criticised PM Modi, Tharoor praised the government’s “measured and sensible” response. (PC: Shahbaz Khan/PTI Photo)

The U.S. decision to impose a hefty $100,000 fee on new H-1B visa applications is prompting Indian firms and the government to scale up Global Capability Centres (GCCs) domestically. With the traditional route of sending tech and consulting staff into the U.S. now more expensive, companies are accelerating investment in India-based delivery hubs to handle critical roles. The Indian IT Ministry is coordinating with its embassy in Washington and ramping up infrastructure for GCCs that can absorb returning talent. This shift seeks to mitigate disruption to firms’ business models caused by visa policy changes.   

India's $283 billion IT industry faces a major overhaul after President Trump's $100,000 fee on new H-1B visas. With 57% of revenue from the U.S. and 71% of H-1B beneficiaries last year being Indian, the policy threatens long-standing business models. Firms like TCS, Infosys, and Wipro must now adjust by reducing onshore rotations, increasing offshore delivery, and hiring more U.S. citizens. The move may also accelerate the adoption of AI and automation to mitigate reliance on foreign talent. Legal challenges are anticipated, and the policy could impact global delivery models and outsourcing strategies. (PC: Reuters)