Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal mentioned that restricted access to H-1B visas might benefit India, as firms progressively shift tech operations to the nation and utilize local talent via global capability centres (GCCs).

Addressing the ET Startup Awards 2026 on Friday, Goyal stated that India could benefit economically if a greater number of skilled workers stayed in the country rather than emigrating to the United States.

He highlighted the billionaires of Indian descent who established companies in the US, suggesting that comparable entrepreneurial and research skills could have aided India's development if they had remained.

Goyal stated that the method companies utilize for staffing has transformed greatly since the pandemic, as a greater amount of work is now conducted from India instead of necessitating professionals to move abroad.

He pinpointed Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune, Gurugram, Noida, and Mumbai as major hubs attracting an increasing portion of technology jobs. Firms are progressively acknowledging the importance of setting up GCCs in India, enabling them to cater to global clients via teams located in the nation.

Goyal's remarks arise during stricter US immigration and employment-based residency regulations impacting tech firms like Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Infosys, Wipro, and HCL Technologies.

The US government has recently halted new and pending applications related to the Permanent Labour Certification (PERM) program for significant technology firms. The program is utilized by companies as a component of the procedure to sponsor international employees for employment-based green cards. The suspension does not automatically cancel current H-1B visas.

Goyal referenced TCS's evaluation that the recent action would not significantly impact its operations. Reuters stated that the company anticipated the suspension would not affect its workforce strategy or client interactions due to its minimal reliance on the PERM route. TCS submitted just a few single-digit PERM applications in the past two years.

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The Commerce Minister mentioned that he had not talked about H-1B visas or green cards with US officials during his seven and a half years in that position.

He also differentiated immigration policy from the movement of professionals related to trade. Goyal states that immigration is not a matter of free trade agreements, and nations possess the power to establish their own immigration regulations. Nonetheless, he stated that the cross-border flow of individuals offering services is significant to trade.

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The US has independently reinforced H-1B criteria, which includes implementing a $100,000 charge for specific new applications concerning employees recruited from overseas in 2025. This action is separate from the recent halt of PERM applications, which relates to the green-card procedure.