Digest for 20 September, 2025
US Imposes $100,000 Annual Fee on H-1B Visas, Affecting Indian Professionals
The US administration has mandated a new $100,000 annual fee for each H-1B visa, a program heavily used by Indian IT professionals. The order, effective September 21, aims to ensure only "very highly skilled" individuals are hired and to prevent the replacement of American workers. This move is expected to significantly impact US tech companies and the Indian technology sector, which supplies the majority of H-1B visa holders, potentially making it prohibitively expensive to hire foreign talent.
India Voices Expectation of 'Sensitivity' Following Saudi-Pakistan Defence Pact
Following the signing of a "Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement" between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, India has stated it expects its strategic partner, Saudi Arabia, to keep "mutual interests and sensitivities" in mind. The pact declares that an aggression against one nation is an aggression against both. India's Ministry of External Affairs is closely monitoring the significant geopolitical development, which could alter security dynamics in the region and impact India's strategic partnerships in the Middle East.
Multiple Delhi Schools Evacuated After Receiving Coordinated Bomb Threats
Several schools across Delhi, including DPS Dwarka and Sarvodaya Vidyalaya, received bomb threats on Saturday morning, prompting immediate evacuations of students and staff. Police and bomb disposal squads launched extensive search operations across the campuses. While the threat at Sarvodaya Vidyalaya was declared a hoax after a thorough search, operations continued at other locations. Authorities are investigating the source of the threats to determine if it was a coordinated effort to create widespread panic in the national capital.
Over ₹34,200 Crore in Development Projects Launched in Gujarat
The Prime Minister is set to inaugurate and lay the foundation for development projects worth over ₹34,200 crore in Bhavnagar, Gujarat. These initiatives span multiple sectors with a major focus on maritime infrastructure, including a new international cruise terminal in Mumbai and port expansions in Kolkata, Paradip, and Kandla. The projects in Gujarat also cover renewable energy, LNG infrastructure, highways, and healthcare, aiming to boost economic growth and sustainable industrialization in the state and across the country.
Government Warns Indian Nationals of Kidnapping Risk from Fake Job Offers in Iran
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has issued a strong advisory cautioning Indian citizens against fake job offers in Iran. The MEA noted a recent trend where Indians are lured with false employment promises, only to be kidnapped by criminal gangs upon arrival who then demand ransoms. The advisory highlights that Iran's visa-free entry for Indians is for tourism only, and any agent promising employment via this route may be colluding with criminals, urging "strictest vigilance".