THE SUNDAY Sunday, September 21, 2025 33 Pages | `5 & for State `6 | Reg. No. MCS/048/2021-23; RNI No. 46955/1988 M.p.c.s. office Mumbai-400001 FREE PRESS JOURNAL INDIA EDITION | www.freepressjournal.in ● Leader in E-paper circulation CBC 15502/13/0019/2526 WO R L D ALZHEIMER DAY Vol. 36 No. 51 | HARD DRIVE | US President Donald Trump has ordered a steep hike in the annual H-1B nonimmigrant visa fee to USD 100,000 for new applicants. Indians will be the most affected. Trump drops H1B bomb Agencies Will lead to spike in offshoring By invitation K Giriprakash I ndian IT services firms blindsided by the Trump Administration’s sudden move to impose a $100,000 fee for H-1B visa petitions are expected to be impacted by about $750 million - $1 billion annually, amounting to a 7 per cent hit on operating margins in the medium term. The margin pressure will come from both cost increase and emergency visa sponsorship, which the IT companies The biggest users of H-1B visas are now US tech giants, not Indian outsourcers, so the overall business pipeline for Indian firms— especially at the top end—should stabilise once operational adjustments are made. may be forced to absorb to retain key US projects. However, profitability of these companies are unlikely to get severely impacted, analysts tracking the Indian IT sector said. It is still not known whether the sponsors of the existing Hi-B visa holders based out of the US will have to pay the increased amount after their 12-month tenure expires. Effective September 21, 2025, the US employers will have to pay a $100,000 annual fee for every new H-1B visa petition, or for H-1B holders seeking to re-enter the US from abroad. This move represents the largest-ever fee hike for the high-skilled visa programme, with the administration claiming that it will ensure only the “most exceptional” foreign workers are brought in and to curb what it terms as “abuse” of the programme. Nasscom, the lobby group which represents all Indian technology companies, said it will disrupt business continuity for onshore project delivery. 4Contd on | Nation THE MOST HIT WASHINGTON President Donald Trump on Friday signed a proclamation that will require a $100,000 annual visa fee for highly-skilled foreign workers and rolled out a $1 million “gold card” visa as a pathway to U.S. citizenship for wealthy individuals, moves that face near-certain legal challenges amid widespread criticism he is sidestepping Congress. If the moves survive legal muster, they will deliver staggering price increases. The visa fee for skilled workers would jump from $215. The fee for investor visas, which are common in many European countries, would climb from $10,000$20,000 a year. H-1B visas, which require at least a bachelor’s degree, are meant for high-skilled jobs that tech companies find difficult to fill. Critics say the program is a pipeline for overseas workers who are often willing to work for as little as $60,000 annually, well below the $100,000-plus salaries typically paid to U.S. Trump on Friday insisted that the tech industry would not oppose the move. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said “all big companies” are on board. 4Contd on | Nation 4See also | Nation Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) is the second-highest beneficiary with 5,505 approved H-1B visas in 2025, after Amazon (10,044 workers on H-1B visas), according to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Other top beneficiaries include Microsoft (5,189), Meta (5,123), Apple (4,202), Google (4,181), Deloitte (2,353), Infosys (2,004), Wipro (1,523) and Tech Mahindra Americas (951). Geographically, California has the highest number of H-1B workers. According to USCIS (year 2024), India comprises 71 % of the beneficiaries, China 11.7%, Philippines 1.3 % , Canada 1.1% ,South Korea 1 %. The rest, Mexico, Taiwan, Pakistan, Brazil, and Nigeria comprise less than 1 % each. IT SPELLS Phalke for Mohanlal CHAOS: NASSCOM FPJ News Service MUMBAI FPJ News Service MUMBAI economic vulnerability, revealing that the country spends nearly ₹6 lakh crore annually on foreign shipping services, an amount almost equal to India’s defence budget. “Around 50 years ago, 40% of our trade was carried by Indian ships. Today, that figure has fallen to just 5%. This is unacceptable if we want to stand strong before the world,” he said. Industry body Nasscom on Saturday warned that the United States’ move to hike H-1B visa application fees to a steep USD 100,000 will disrupt business continuity and create chaos for technology firms, professionals and students worldwide. The apex IT industry body flagged the September 21 implementation deadline as unrealistic, saying a one-day notice period creates “considerable uncertainty” and leaves no time for businesses and individuals to adapt. “Adjustments of this nature can potentially have ripple effects on America’s innovation ecosystem and the wider job economy,” Nasscom said in a statement. “Policy changes of this scale are best introduced with adequate transition periods, allowing organisations and individuals to plan effectively and minimise disruption.” Nasscom stressed that Indian tech firms have been steadily reducing their reliance on H-1B visas by increasing local hiring in the US, while complying with all wage and governance norms. 4Contd on | Nation 4Contd on | Nation India flags disruptions The Government of India has taken note of reports regarding proposed restrictions on the US H-1B visa program. In a press statement, the Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson said that the move is likely to have humanitarian consequences, disrupting families, and that the full implications of the measure are being carefully studied by all concerned parties, including Indian industry, which has already released an initial analysis clarifying certain perceptions related to the H1B program. He said, ““Skilled talent mobility and exchanges have contributed enormously to technology development, innovation, economic growth, competitiveness, and wealth creation in both the United States and India,” the statement said. “Policymakers will therefore assess recent steps taking into account mutual benefits, including strong peopleto-people ties between the two countries.” The author is a Bengaluru- based senior journalist specialising in IT sector MODI’S RIPOSTE: ATMANIRBHARTA Agencies NEW DELHI Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday made a powerful pitch for India’s economic self-reliance, saying the country’s biggest enemy was its dependence on other nations — a remark that took on sharper relevance in the backdrop of U.S. President Donald Trump’s latest move to impose a $100,000 (over ₹88 lakh) fee on H-1B Probe into Zubeen death PTI GUWAHATI visa applicants. Speaking at the ‘Samudra se Samruddhi’ event at Bhavnagar’s Gandhi Maidan, where he inaugurated and laid foundation stones for projects worth ₹34,200 crore, Modi urged the country to see this as a wakeup call. “In the true sense, India does not have any big enemy in the world. Our only enemy is dependence on other countries. The greater the dependence, the higher the rate of failure,” he said. There is only one medicine for a hundred sorrows — Atmanirbharta (self-reliance) – PM Narendra Modi He underlined that India must build everything “from chips to ships,” stressing that the future of 1.4 billion Indians cannot be left to decisions taken in foreign capitals. “There is only one medicine Countdown to sea biodiversity pact for a hundred sorrows — Atmanirbharta (self-reliance),” the Prime Minister declared, drawing applause from the gathering. Modi linked India’s maritime dependence with its CJI Gavai urges members of tribunals to reflect and be gutsy PTI NEW DELHI Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday announced an inquiry into the death of singer Zubeen Garg. An FIR has been lodged against North East India Festival organiser Shyamkanu Mahanta and the singer’s manager Siddhartha Sharma at Morigaon police station. Assam Police will interrogate them along with those who were with Garg in his final moments. Sarma said there are reports that the singer was taken to a party the night before his death, and investigators are trying to verify this. Garg died in Singapore on Friday, reportedly while swimming in the sea without a life jacket. Singapore authorities have also started their investigation. 4Contd on | Nation Chief Justice of India (CJI) B R Gavai on Saturday said some of the non-judicial members of the tribunals, who are usually ex-bureaucrats, are averse to passing any orders against the government and urged them to reflect. Addressing the 10th All India Conference of the Central Agencies SEATTLE A historic agreement to safeguard marine diversity in international waters is set to take effect next year after Morocco became the 60th nation to ratify the High Seas Treaty on Friday. Ratification by 60 nations triggers a 120 day countdown for the treaty to become legally binding, marking the first-ever global framework to protect biodiversity in the high seas. International waters, which make up nearly two thirds of the ocean and almost half of Earth’s surface, face growing threats from overfishing, cli- mate change and deep-sea mining. The treaty is designed to regulate these areas, which currently fall outside the jurisdiction of any single country. As reported by AP. “The high seas are the world’s largest crime scene; they’re unmanaged, unenforced, and a regulatory legal structure is absolutely necessary,” said Johan Bergenas, senior vice president of oceans at the World Wildlife Fund. Still, the strength of the pact remains uncertain as some of the biggest players, the United States, China, Russia and Japan, have not ratified. 4Contd on | Nation Administrative Tribunal (CAT) 2025 in New Delhi, in the presence of Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal and Union Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office Jitendra Singh, the CJI highlighted several issues plaguing tribunals and the country’s justice delivery system. He said administrative tribunals occupy a unique space between the executive and the judiciary, with members coming from both administrative services and the judiciary. While this diversity brings together judicial acumen and administrative experience, it is imperative that members are consistently trained and held to uniform standards of eligibility. 4Contd on | Nation Malayalam superstar Mohanlal, fondly called Lalettan by fans, has been named the recipient of the 2023 Dadasaheb Phalke Award, India’s highest cinematic honour, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting announced on Saturday. The award recognises his “iconic contribution to Indian cinema,” and the 65-year-old actor, director, and producer will receive the accolade at the 71st National Film Awards ceremony on September 23. Mohanlal’s journey from a young aspirant to a living legend spans over four decades, with more than 350 films across Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, and Kannada. He made his acting debut as an 18-year-old in the Malayalam film Thiranottam. Though the film faced a delayed release, it marked the beginning of a career that would redefine versatility in Indian cinema. His first significant breakthrough came with Manjil Virinja Pookkal (1980), where his portrayal of an antagonist displayed an innate flair for performance, hinting at the superstar he would become. Over the years, Mohanlal has demonstrated remarkable range, effortlessly moving between genres. His films include gripping thrillers like Drishyam, emotionally charged dramas like Thanmathra, the experimental political biopic Iruvar, classical performances in Vanaprastham, and mass entertainers such as Pulimurugan and Munthirivallikal Thalirkkumbol. 4Contd on | Nation Automatic doors for all new local trains Kamal Mishra MUMBAI In a landmark move to enhance suburban passenger safety, Indian Railways has announced that all newly built local trains, including non-AC ones, will be equipped with automatic doorclosing systems. Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw made the announcement on Saturday during an event marking the breakthrough of a 4.8 km tunnel for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train project. Speaking to the media, Vaishnaw highlighted the vital importance of the city’s suburban rail network for millions of daily commuters. “To enhance passenger safety, we are working on installing automatic door closers on existing local trains,” he said, adding that the current fleet will be retrofitted with this technology. The minister confirmed that all newly built non-AC local trains will have provisions for automatic door-closing sys- I ndia's first bullet train will begin by December 2027, announced Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Saturday. The initial 50-km section will run between Surat and Billimora in 2027, with the line expected to reach Thane by 2028 and BKC by 2029. SEE MUMBAI P rime Minister Narendra Modi virtually inaugurated the Mumbai International Cruise Terminal (MICT) at Indira Dock on Saturday. The inauguration took place as part of the ‘Samudra Se Samriddhi’ event held in Bhavnagar. SEE MUMBAI tems, with the first such train expected to enter service next year. Currently, only AC local trains are equipped with this system. 4Contd on | Nation Pink Panther and the Burhan Wani hunt M Saleem Pandit SRINAGAR Kashmiri separatist Yasin Malik, currently lodged in Delhi’s Tihar Jail, has disclosed in an affidavit to the Delhi High Court that security forces missed multiple opportunities to arrest Hizbul Mujahideen poster boy Burhan Wani. It reads like a classic case of inept policing best captured in the Pink Panther series featuring Peter Sellers as Inspector Clouseau, a hilariously incompetent detective who gets it right only by accident. The revelation comes at a time when, on August 11, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) sought the death penalty for Malik in a terror funding case. According to Malik’s affidavit, the security grid in Jammu and Kashmir noticed Burhan Wani sometime in 2011, after he left his family home at the age of 15. Wani rose to prominence by appearing on Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube, where he posted photographs of himself in battle gear, wielding an AK-47 and wrote emotional speeches. Malik said that Wani romanticised the Mujahid movement, drawing young Kashmiris confined to their homes by crackdowns, curfews, and school closures to his words and images. Malik stated that Wani’s movements, words, images, and contacts in and around Pulwama, about 25 kilometres south of Srinagar, were monitored by tech-savvy intelligence officers in Srinagar and New Delhi. These officers scrubbed images for hints about his hideouts and accomplices. “Every few days, from approximately October 14 to February 15, 2011, IB officers reported in, using their numeric references, plotting Burhan’s journey, including his meeting with a veteran LeT commander, whom IB knew well,” the affidavit notes. 4Contd on | Nation