Is India of 2025 a More Thrilling Destination for Talented Students?

New Delhi, Sep 20 (NationPress) Following US President Donald Trump's announcement regarding a $100,000 fee for American companies for securing H-1B visas for foreign employees—a decision that could significantly affect Indian tech talent—Radhika Gupta, MD and CEO of Edelweiss Mutual Fund, has called on Indians to come back home, asserting that India in 2025 is considerably more appealing than India in 2005.

In a personal narrative shared on the social media platform X, Gupta recounted how the 2008 financial crisis left many Indian students disheartened, leading some to return home and build rewarding lives.

"I was fortunate to graduate in 2005, when H-1B policies were much more favorable in the US. However, the landscape changed abruptly in 2008 during the financial crisis—many Indian students felt lost and hopeless," Gupta wrote on X.

"Some eventually returned, and even those of us who still had visas made similar choices over time. Today, we have created fulfilling lives here—with immense professional opportunities and the profound satisfaction of contributing to our own country. Personally, I have no desire to return to the US," she added.

Given the current circumstances in the US and the vast potential that India offers, the CEO of Edelweiss Mutual Fund encouraged Indian students to return, emphasizing that when one door closes, numerous others open back home.

"If you’re on a campus in the US right now feeling shaken or disheartened, I understand that sentiment. But remember: when one door closes, many others open back home. And India of 2025 is a far more thrilling place than India of 2005 ever was," she expressed.

She concluded with an uplifting message, "Chin up. Aao, ab laut chalen!"

In response to Trump’s announcement, tech giant Microsoft has advised employees with H-1B and H-4 visas currently outside the US to return immediately ahead of the September 21 deadline.

The US government has decided to impose a $100,000 annual fee on each visa.

This new regulation will be effective from September 21 and will remain in place for 12 months, as stated by the US President.

Reports indicate that companies like Microsoft and JPMorgan have instructed H-1B workers currently in the US to continue their employment there "for the foreseeable future" and to avoid international travel until further instructions are provided.

The H-1B visa allows US companies to employ skilled foreign workers in sectors such as technology and engineering.

Given that approximately 71% of H-1B visa holders are from India, primarily working for tech firms like Infosys, Wipro, Cognizant, and Tata Consultancy Services, this move is poised to have a substantial impact on the Indian diaspora.