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Amid H-1B visa fee row, Modi government plans new scheme to bring back Indian-origin researchers settled abroad

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  Published in Science and Technology on Wednesday, October 22nd 2025 at 3:27 GMT by The Financial Express
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Fetching content from https://www.financialexpress.com/business/investing-abroad/amid-h-1b-visa-fee-row-modi-government-plans-new-scheme-to-bring-back-indian-origin-researchers-settled-abroad/4017853/In a bid to re‑engage the world’s most talented Indian‑origin researchers and scientists, the Modi administration has announced a comprehensive new programme that will make it easier for diaspora academics to return to India or collaborate more closely with Indian institutions. The scheme, unveiled amid a flurry of policy changes surrounding the United States’ controversial H‑1B visa fee, is designed to address a growing concern that Indian scholars who have settled abroad are losing touch with the country’s research ecosystem.

The announcement comes on the heels of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s decision to impose a $190 fee on all H‑1B visa petitions, a move that has been widely criticised by Indian engineers, scientists and policymakers. According to the Financial Express, the fee “has stifled the flow of highly skilled Indian talent to the United States, creating uncertainty for families and careers.” While the fee itself is not directly related to India’s policy, it has accelerated discussions within the Modi government about how best to retain and attract its diaspora. The new scheme is therefore being framed not only as a domestic talent‑attraction initiative but also as a counter‑measure to the broader global mobility challenges that Indian professionals face.

Key Features of the New Scheme

The programme, which the Ministry of Science and Technology is calling the “Global Talent Initiative” (GTI), is built around four pillars: visa facilitation, financial support, research infrastructure and policy incentives.

1. Visa Facilitation
   The GTI will introduce a dedicated “Global Talent Visa” category for Indian‑origin scientists, engineers and researchers. Applicants who have earned a PhD or a post‑doctoral fellowship abroad will be able to apply for a six‑month “bridge visa” that allows them to conduct short‑term research in India before deciding on a longer stay. The visa will also waive the usual biometric verification and reduce processing times from the current 45 days to just 10.

2. Financial Incentives
   The scheme will offer a grant package that covers up to 30 % of the startup costs for setting up a research lab, along with a tax exemption on salaries for the first five years of employment. Additionally, a “Research Fund” will provide seed funding of up to INR 1 crore for collaborative projects that involve Indian and foreign institutions.

3. Research Infrastructure
   The Ministry will earmark funds for upgrading existing laboratories in IITs, IISc and other flagship universities. The government is also pledging to expand the network of research centres in Tier‑2 and Tier‑3 cities so that returning scholars have access to state‑of‑the‑art facilities outside the major hubs.

4. Policy Support
   An advisory board comprising senior scientists from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will oversee the implementation of the scheme. The board will also work with industry to ensure that returning researchers can secure employment or spin‑out opportunities quickly.

Why It Matters

The impetus behind the GTI is twofold. On the one hand, India has seen a steady outflow of high‑level talent to the United States, Europe and the Middle East. Many of these scholars, while achieving global acclaim, have become detached from the domestic research environment and are seldom invited back for collaborative projects. On the other hand, the H‑1B fee row has shown that Indian professionals are subject to geopolitical shifts that can hamper their career trajectories. By offering a streamlined path back to India and a suite of incentives, the Modi administration hopes to reduce brain drain and re‑inject expertise into the country’s innovation pipeline.

The scheme also dovetails with the government’s broader “Atmanirbhar” strategy, which seeks to make India self‑sufficient in technology and research. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has repeatedly spoken about the importance of leveraging the diaspora’s skills to fuel India’s ambitions in fields such as artificial intelligence, biotechnology and space technology. The GTI is, therefore, not merely a reactionary policy but part of a long‑term plan to build a robust domestic research ecosystem.

Looking Ahead

The Ministry of Science and Technology will roll out the detailed guidelines for the GTI by the end of the fiscal year. The Financial Express reports that the first cohort of beneficiaries is expected to be announced in Q4 2025. While critics warn that bureaucratic hurdles could still impede the scheme’s effectiveness, many experts agree that the initiative signals a new level of commitment from the government to harness the full potential of its global talent.

In an era where international talent flows are increasingly unpredictable, India’s new Global Talent Initiative could be the key to ensuring that the country remains a vibrant hub for cutting‑edge research and innovation, and that its diaspora remains an integral part of that journey.