Now Reading: Indian IT firms spent $1.1 bn on US STEM pipeline: Nasscom
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Indian IT firms spent $1.1 bn on US STEM pipeline: Nasscom
Indian IT services firms have invested over $1.1 billion in strengthening the STEM pipeline in the US, working with more than 130 universities and colleges, industry body Nasscom said. The spending, which…
Indian IT services firms have invested over $1.1 billion in strengthening the STEM pipeline in the US, working with more than 130 universities and colleges, industry body Nasscom said. The spending, which has impacted 2.9 million students and upskilled more than 255,000 employees, comes as the number of H-1B employees from Indian companies has fallen sharply over the last decade.
The US government has proposed a new $103,265 fee for cap-subject H-1B petitions, replacing the earlier $100,000 payment that has run into legal challenges. Nasscom said the proposed fee hike should be viewed in the context of the programme's original purpose of enabling access to temporary skills where there is a shortage in the US.
The draft proposal will be open for public comments and will take a few months for finalisation. Rediff.com reports that H-1B registrations by major Indian IT firms fell 38.5 percent to 211,600 for FY27, a seven-year low, while Livemint notes the new rules favour high-wage applicants, reducing chances for entry-level professionals.
Indian Opinion Analysis
Both sources report the H-1B fee hike and industry response without taking sides, making this straight business news. Rediff.com leads with Nasscom's $1.1 billion investment and falling registrations, while Livemint offers a broader explainer on visa rules and company strategies. The coverage uniformly frames the fee as a cost shift pushing Indian IT toward offshore delivery and senior talent. What the articles do not quantify is how many entry-level jobs will move out of the US. The next concrete date is the end of the public comment period, after which the fee will be finalised.
Coverage: 2 sources, 2 neutral
Sources (2): rediff.com (neutral report), livemint.com (neutral report)
This brief was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above, so one read covers every framing they carry.
