Top Stories | H-1B visa chaos hit IT stocks, GST rate cuts take effect, Amitabh Kant urges reforms and more

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Indian origin companies received 15,000 H-1B visas in 2025, 30% lower than 5 years ago: NASSCOM



The Trump administration’s proposal to impose a $100,000 annual fee for H-1B visas has set off concern across the technology sector, with some companies warning foreign workers to stay put in the US or return quickly to avoid disruptions.

The move threatens to further squeeze Indian IT firms, which have long been among the largest users of the visa programme to deploy skilled engineers onsite.

According to NASSCOM President Rajesh Nambiar, Indian-origin IT firms secured only about 15,000 H-1B visas in 2025, a sharp 30% decline compared to 5-6 years ago. “Most of the IT companies have reduced the dependency on H-1B over a period of time,” he told CNBC-TV18. “We are looking at a much smaller issue compared to what we would have probably looked at maybe four or five years ago.”

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Also Read: H-1B Visa Fees News — Analysts highlight which companies will have the highest impact

Nifty, Sensex end lower as IT stocks sink on US visa worries



The stock market closed lower on Monday, dragged down by a sharp selloff in information technology stocks after renewed concerns over H-1B visa rules in the United States, even as gains in Adani Group companies capped losses.

The NSE Nifty 50 index fell 0.49% to 25,202.

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Also Read: IT Stocks Crash: Infosys, TCS contribute to more than half of near ₹1 lakh crore market cap erosion

EAM Jaishankar to meet US State Secy Rubio amid H-1B visa concern



External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will meet the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the sidelines of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) on Monday (September 22) in New York.

This comes on the heels of at least two major shakeups affecting the India-US bilateral ties since they last met in July in Washington, DC, for the Quad Foreign Ministers' Meeting.

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From medicines to milk: Items that get cheaper after GST rate cuts from today



Starting today, changes in India’s Goods and Services Tax (GST) rates come into effect, following decisions by the GST Council. The revised structure reduces tax rates on several essential goods and services, aiming to simplify compliance and make products more affordable for consumers.

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CEA Nageswaran confident India’s economy will hit upper end of growth this fiscal, eyes GST 2.0 boost



India’s Chief Economic Advisor is batting for a significant pick-up in the economic growth rate in FY26, thanks to the GST rate cuts.

In a conversation with CNBC-TV18’s Shereen Bhan, Nageswaran elaborated his expectations from the economy and said,” I  am more comfortable now that the final number which I have given a range of, 6.3-6.8%, I am more comfortable now saying that it will be in the upper end of this range rather than the lower end of this range, considering what’s happening on the external front, that is the extent to which I am prepared to sound more relaxed and confident at this point “.

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More PSU IPOs, OFS, 'value creation' for small shareholders on the anvil: DIPAM Secy Exclusive



Arunish Chawla, the Secretary for the Department of Disinvestment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM), is keeping is "fingers crossed" that the department will beat its disinvestment target of ₹47,000 crore during the current financial year.

In an exclusive interaction at Network18's Reforms Reloaded event on Monday, September 22, Chawla said that there will be more Offers for Sale (OFS), a  few IPOs and more value creation opportunities for the small retail investor.

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India to unveil ₹30,000 cr drone contract, pushes 17% defence budget hike amid indigenisation drive



India’s Defence Secretary, Rajesh Kumar Singh, announced a bold push to strengthen the country’s defence capabilities, revealing that the government will soon invite proposals for medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) drone contracts worth ₹30,000 crore.

Committed to ramping up indigenisation, the Ministry plans to spend at least 75% of its capital expenditure within India, while also advocating for a minimum 17% annual hike in the defence budget to fuel the nation’s strategic ambitions.





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India can grow at 9-10% if reforms on labour, privatisation, clean tech are pushed: Amitabh Kant





India has the potential to grow at 9-10% per annum over the next three decades if the government accelerates reforms on labour, privatisation, clean technology and skill development, said Amitabh Kant, Ex-Sherpa of G20 India and Former CEO of NITI Aayog, in an exclusive interview to CNBC-TV18 at Network18's Reforms Reloaded event.

“GST simplification is a great thing that will push the consumption story, create demand, improve capacity utilisation and lead to further investments in the Indian economy. But GST should just be the beginning of an accelerated reform process,” Kant said, adding that global challenges like supply chain breakdowns, protectionism and geopolitical tensions require India to move faster on structural changes.

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Govt should exit business, let free enterprise drive growth, says former CEO of NITI Aayog Amitabh Kant



Former CEO of NITI Aayog Amitabh Kant has called for a decisive push on privatisation, arguing that the government must keep its "arms out of business" if the economy is to achieve sustained double-digit growth.

In an exclusive interview with CNBC-TV18 at Network18's Reforms Reloaded event on Monday, Kant warned against bureaucrats sitting on company boards, saying they are "status quoists" averse to risk and innovation, which stifles decision-making. "Government officers will kill decision-making if they get onto company boards," he said.

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Netanyahu rejects the UK, Australia & Canada's recognition of Palestinian state



Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu said that the establishment of a Palestinian state 'will not happen' after allies like the UK, Canada & Australia formally recognised a Palestinian state. Netanyahu criticised the move, saying it gave a 'prize' to Hamas' terror.



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