Former G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant stated on Saturday that US President Donald Trump‘s proposal to charge an annual fee of $100,000 for the H-1B visa will stifle American innovation while favoring Indian IT and software companies.

Trump has signed a proclamation to drastically reduce the H-1B visa program, which is a huge blow to Indian tech workers in the US and leading software businesses.

“Donald Trump’s $100,000 H-1B fee will stifle American innovation while fostering it in India.” “America pushes the next wave of labs, patents, innovation, and startups to Bangalore and Hyderabad, Pune, and Gurgaon by slamming the door on global talent,” Kant wrote on the social media platform X.

He added that the best physicians, engineers, scientists, and inventors in India have a chance to support India’s development and advancement toward Viksit Bharat.

“India will gain from America’s loss,” he said.

According to investor and entrepreneur Kunal Bahl, a huge number of bright people would return to India as a result of the new H1-B regulations.

He wrote on X, “Moving base will undoubtedly be difficult at first, but it will work out for them given the tremendous opportunities in India.”

The proclamation states that in an effort to reduce the abuse of the visa program and promote the employment of domestic workers, each application will now need to pay a $100,000 annual fee.

Trump stated that the “incentive is to hire American workers” as he signed the proclamation at the White House on Friday.

“We require employees. This essentially guarantees that we will have excellent workers, Trump continued.

Howard Lutnick, the secretary of commerce, also supported the action, claiming that it would deter businesses from employing foreigners.

Additionally, President Trump issued an executive order establishing a gold card program that would allow individuals to receive a visa for $1 million and businesses to receive a visa for $2 million.

IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw declared that as part of the ‘India AI Mission‘ to boost artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure and skills, the government will set up more than 500 data laboratories across the country.

Speaking at a pre-event of the AI Impact Summit 2026, he added that this move is a component of the broader IndiaAI Mission, which has selected eight new firms to create large language models (LLMs), including Tech Mahindra, Fractal Analytics, and BharatGen, a consortium from IIT Bombay.

The team led by IIT Bombay has been given Rs 988.6 crore by the government through the IndiaAI Mission to create an LLM with one trillion parameters. Parameters are the internal variables of LLMs that draw linguistic correlations and patterns from training data.

The Center’s effort to create autonomous AI capabilities through sector-specific AI applications, GPUs, sovereign LLMs, and skill-building programs is known as the India AI Mission. At a cost of Rs 10,300 crore, it was approved earlier this year.

MeitY and the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser will also unveil an AI framework in ten days, according to Vaishnaw.

Additionally, industry-specific small language models (SLMs) are being developed for weather forecasting, manufacturing, logistics, transportation, and agriculture.

The minister noted that Abhishek Singh, the CEO of the India AI Mission, has been directed to investigate adding 10,000 extra GPUs to the country’s present pool of 34,000.

Additionally, he emphasized the need for an international framework for AI governance, but cautioned that the realization of such an agreement may take some time.

The development of sovereign LLMs, or large language models trained on Indian datasets and languages, is a crucial part of the objective to reduce reliance on foreign AI systems.

In order to train and deploy large AI models, computational capacity is needed, and India currently has 34,000 GPUs allocated to the project.

The AI framework will be released to the public within the next 10 days, Vaishnaw said, with the first industry-specific language models concentrating on manufacturing, logistics, transportation, weather forecasting, and agriculture.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced that the Union government intends to convert Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) nationwide into artificial intelligence (AI) training centers.

Speaking at the second annual symposium of the Indian Foundation for Quality Management (IFQM) in the nation’s capital, Sitharaman stated that the government has prioritized skilling and upskilling over the past two to three years and has included funding for it in the yearly budgets.

She pointed out that the central government introduced a hub-and-spoke architecture to modernize the ITIs because they were not contributing to the quickly evolving industrial environment.

According to the FM, “we will be able to provide them the entire money required for upgrading these places for AI-driven training centers if these ITIs were to adopt the hub and spoke model within the state.”

“Some institutes of excellence, like the Indian Institute of Science or the IITs, have been identified by the government to establish institutions of excellence for AI-related R&D and training,” she continued.

According to FM Sitharaman, the budget was created to make sure that young people at the grassroots level receive AI-driven skills, regardless of whether they are school dropouts or graduates, have completed a degree program, or have some other type of qualification but now wish to learn AI-related abilities.

“The ITI-based formulation that will be developed will take into account all such individuals. Many states are eager to develop the model, she added, adding that these centers will give students practical AI training.

The finance minister called for private sector involvement, pointing out the urgent need to upskill India’s youth to prepare them for “quick and direct” employment after completing their education.

“How to address the shortage of human resources – not the type of degree I desire, and not enough trained. There is no rounding off of the personalities. Although the degree is present, the person is not enough developed to work for the big international corporations or Indian businesses you are referring to. We must all complete that component. In order to prepare young people for immediate and direct employment, I would like the business sector to work with the government,” Sitharaman stated.

Across the country, PM Modi’s 75th birthday is being commemorated with festivities and the introduction of development, welfare, and health initiatives. With a flood of congratulations and tributes from political figures nationwide, it has turned into a national moment of celebration.

He was born on September 17, 1950, in Mehsana town, Gujarat, and served as Chief Minister for three consecutive terms from 2001 and 2014.

He is now in his third term as prime minister, having been elected in 2014. PM Modi has previously used his birthday to interact with the public, launch welfare initiatives, or take part in public events.

In a post on X, FM Nirmala Sitharaman expressed her hope that PM Modi will have a long and healthy life and continue to serve our country.

“Our people recognize his unwavering commitment to put India’s interest above all else, and they bless him,” she said.

Union Minister Piyush Goyal said, PM Modi has been serving the country and promoting the welfare of the populace for 50 years.

“As Chief Minister and then as Prime Minister, for 24 years, you have steered the government, bringing development to every corner of the country. From a humble worker to India’s illustrious Prime Minister, your entire life has been dedicated to serving the poor, youth, farmers, and women,” he posted on X.

Union Minister Pralhad Joshi said that Over the last 11 years, your unwavering hard work and dedication have brought unprecedented transformation in the lives of crores of Indians.

“You have ignited the lamp of patriotism in the heart of every citizen and awakened a resolve for active participation in nation-building. May God grant you excellent health and a long life, so that you continue to serve Mother India with the same dedication and energy in the coming years,” Joshi noted in a post on X.

Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia stated that his first encounter with Prime Minister Modi as a member of his cabinet was an experience he would never forget.

“His deep interest in every subject, open mindedness, and out of the box perspective gave me new energy and inspired me to fulfill my responsibilities with even greater dedication and enthusiasm,” he posted on X.

Reliance Industries and Reliance Retail Chairman and Managing Director Mukesh Ambani praised PM Modi for his hard efforts to make India a world powerhouse.

As a “avatar purush,” God has appointed Prime Minister Narendra Modi to rule India. The arrival of Modi Ji’s Amrit Mahotsav at Bharat’s Amrit Kaal is no accident. When India celebrates its 100th anniversary as an independent nation, I sincerely hope Modi Ji will still be serving the country,” he continued.

Uday Kotak, the director of Kotak Mahindra Bank, praised PM Modi’s technique of taking inspiration from international best practices and modifying them for India in order to guide the country toward development.

“Every conversation I’ve had with Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been educational and motivating. The way he combines vision and execution, curiosity and humility, is what most impresses me,” Kotak stated on X.

Sunil Bharti Mittal, the founder and chairman of Bharti Enterprises, praised the Prime Minister’s progressive, technology-first strategy, saying it has established a solid basis for leveraging technology for inclusive advancement.

The chairman of the Aditya Birla Group, Kumar Mangalam Birla, said PM Modi is constantly interested in the state of the economy and how to encourage businesses to increase their investment.

Because he is also an extremely good listener, he will carefully listen to you and take in what you have to say if he asks you a question. Additionally, you should be well-prepared before seeing him since he will quickly figure out if you are misinformed,” Kumar Mangalam Birla stated.

Bharti Enterprises Founder and Chairman Sunil Bharti Mittal post on social media platform X as part of the “My Modi Story” campaign, stated that PM Modi’s visit to Japan, during which he pledged to establish a single-window clearance desk in the PMO for Japanese investors, is a prime example, stating that it “fundamentally changed their perspective on investing in India.”

As the country prepares to commemorate PM Modi’s 75th birthday on Wednesday, September 17, compelling tales are being told through the “My Modi Story” campaign, which highlights the Prime Minister’s individual influence on individuals from all walks of life.

Google fires more than two hundred AI contractors. The action has sparked worries about low pay, job security, and potential reprisals against unionization attempts.

The layoffs occurred in at least two different waves last month and were implemented with little to no notice, according to a report by “WIRED.” A number of contractors reported that they were abruptly disconnected from their work.

A contractor named Andrew Lauzon claimed to have received an email on August 15 alerting him to the termination of his contract, saying, “I was just cut off.”

“They said ramp-down on the project—whatever that means—when I asked for a rationale. Given that we might quit at any time, how are we meant to feel safe in this job? He went on.

The contractors belonged to a group known as “super raters,” many of whom are said to have advanced degrees like master’s and doctoral degrees.

They were in charge of improving AI-generated responses so they sounded more accurate and natural.

According to employees who spoke to “WIRED,” they had a significant influence on Google’s AI products, such as the AI Overviews function that summarizes search results.

A generalist rater with GlobalLogic, stated, “As raters, we play an incredibly vital role.”

“The developers won’t have enough time to improve the bot and obtain the necessary input. We’re there to make sure nothing awful occurs, much like the lifeguards on the beach,” that person continued.

The impacted personnel were employed by GlobalLogic or its subcontractors, and Google has apparently denied direct culpability for the employment losses.

According to a remark from Google spokesman, “These people are not Alphabet employees; they are employees of GlobalLogic or their subcontractors. GlobalLogic and its subcontractors bear the responsibility for the employment and working conditions of their employees as the employers,” He continued.

The alleged layoffs coincide with Google’s significant AI investment to stay competitive with rivals like Microsoft and OpenAI.

As the first Indian to successfully defend the FIDE Women’s Grand Swiss championship, grandmaster Vaishali Rameshbabu made history on Monday.

In the final round, she held previous Women’s World Champion Tan Zhongyi to a draw, securing her triumph and leaving her as the tournament’s only leader.

In addition to congratulating Grandmaster Vaishali Rameshbabu on her historic victory in the FIDE Women’s Grand Swiss 2025, which she called a “outstanding accomplishment,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi also praised Anandkumar Velkumar for winning India’s first-ever speed skating world championship gold.

PM Modi remarked, “Excellent achievement,” in a post on X. To Vaishali Rameshbabu, congratulations. Her enthusiasm and commitment are admirable. Warmest regards for her further pursuits.

Vaishali’s victory guaranteed her a spot in the Candidates Tournament the following year. Vaishali, Koneru Humpy, and World Cup winner Divya Deshmukh will now represent India in the women’s division. Who will challenge the current women’s world champion will be determined by the Candidates Tournament.

Also, PM Modi congratulated Anandkumar Velkumar on his historic victory in the Senior Men’s 1000m Sprint at the Speed Skating World Championships 2025.

“We are proud of Anandkumar Velkumar for taking home the gold in the Senior Men’s 1000-meter sprint at the 2025 Speed Skating World Championships.” He is India’s first skating world champion thanks to his perseverance, speed, and spirit. Innumerable children will be inspired by his achievement. PM Modi congratulated him and wished him luck in all of his future endeavors.

India’s first-ever gold medal at the Speed Skating World Championships in China was won by Anandkumar Velkumar.

The 22-year-old speedster became India’s first world champion in the sport after winning the senior men’s 1000-meter sprint with a time of 1:24.924.

A recent analysis released by NITI Aayog on Monday suggests that artificial intelligence has the potential to boost India’s GDP by $1.9 trillion by 2035, which might revolutionize the country’s economic growth in the upcoming ten years.

According to the paper “AI for Viksit Bharat: Roadmap for Accelerated Economic Growth,” the adoption of AI is predicted to be worth between $17 and $26 trillion globally over the next 10 years.

With its robust STEM talent and research infrastructure, India could potentially capture 10–15 percent of this value.

India’s GDP might reach $8.3 trillion by 2035 if AI is completely implemented, up from $6.6 trillion at the current rate of growth. According to the paper, AI might help close 30–35% of the nation’s growth gap.

The study identifies crucial industries where AI can bring about significant change, including banking, manufacturing, and research-intensive sectors like semiconductors, electric cars, medicines, and aerospace.

In particular, generative AI has the potential to lower research expenses, lower barriers to entry in billion-dollar companies, and accelerate innovation in sectors including biopharma, automotive components, and space technology.

With a budget of more than Rs 10,000 crore, the government formed the IndiaAI Mission to aid in this transition.

In order to extend adoption throughout the nation, it will concentrate on developing massive language models tailored to India, installing 38,000 GPUs, and establishing AI laboratories in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities.

But the report also identifies problems. Data and infrastructure are still inaccessible to many MSMEs.

Additionally, India lacks qualified experts in battery technology, microprocessor design, and robotics.

Strong policy frameworks, consent-based data sharing, and worker reskilling will be crucial, particularly given that AI has the potential to replace 35–40% of occupations globally.

In order to establish India as the “data capital of the world” and a center for cutting-edge technologies, the report urges immediate cooperation between the government, business, and academic institutions.

In addition, NITI Aayog introduced the “Frontier Tech Repository,” which features more than 200 actual instances of how frontier technologies are enhancing people’s lives in India.

Additionally, it will support widespread adoption and assist states in replicating effective solutions.

India cannot become a developed country without investing in cutting-edge technologies, according to B.V.R. Subrahmanyam, CEO of NITI Aayog.

“We must stay ahead of the curve if we want to take advantage of technology. India will be prepared for the future by identifying trends, raising awareness, and utilizing these technologies, he stated.

To commemorate the birth anniversary of Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya, who is considered to be among India’s greatest engineers, National Engineers’ Day is observed annually on September 15.

His pioneering contributions revolutionised India’s infrastructure through innovative designs, practical solutions, and visionary planning that blended technical expertise with social progress.

The legacy of Visvesvaraya extends much beyond engineering. He was a writer, statesman, and economist who also held the positions of President of the All-India Manufacturers’ Organization and Diwan of Mysore.

He was given the Bharat Ratna in 1955 and continues to be a source of inspiration for both engineers and decision-makers.

From modest beginnings to enormous accomplishments, his life’s work has established him as one of the most significant figures in modern Indian history and continues to serve as a standard for creativity, problem-solving, and nation-building.

On Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi honored Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya on the anniversary of his birth, which is celebrated nationally as Engineers’ Day, and praised his remarkable accomplishments that helped to define India’s engineering scene.

“Today, on Engineers’ Day, I pay homage to Sir M. Visvesvaraya, whose brilliance left an indelible mark on India’s engineering landscape,” the Prime Minister wrote in a post on X. I want to express my warmest greetings to all engineers who continue to spur innovation and take on difficult problems in a variety of industries thanks to their inventiveness and tenacity. Our engineers will keep being vital to the group’s endeavors to create a Viksit Bharat.

In addition, Union Home Minister Amit Shah greeted engineers and acknowledged their role in advancing technology.

“Happy Engineers’ Day, everyone who works in engineering. India is rapidly reaching the highest level of technological advancement thanks to your vision, inventiveness, and commitment. “I pay tribute to the great engineer who led us down this path of transformation on the Jayanti of Bharat Ratna M. Visvesvaraya Ji,” HM Shah wrote in a post on X.

At the Dubai International Cricket Stadium here on Sunday, captain Suryakumar Yadav celebrated his 35th birthday in style by leading India to a decisive 7-wicket victory over Pakistan in a Group A match of the 2025 Men’s T20 Asia Cup. Yadav struck an undefeated 47 off 37 balls.

India easily won with 25 balls remaining after chasing 128; this demonstrated their superiority over Pakistan in every facet of the game.

In the game being played for the first time since heightened diplomatic tensions earlier this year, Suryakumar and Shivam Dube (10 not out) hurried off quickly once the chase was done. This time, there were no handshakes between players.

Abhishek Sharma and Tilak Varma, both left-handed batsmen who scored 31 apiece, also made quick contributions to India’s simple chase, which enabled them to win the competition for the second time in a row.

For the second consecutive game, India’s spin-heavy approach proved to be the winning one. With scores of 3-18, left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav took the lead, followed by Axar Patel with 2-18. With numbers of 1–24, Varun Chakaravarthy led the trio in limiting Pakistan to 127/9 while playing with impressive control on a slow Dubai pitch.

Suryakumar Yadav and Shivam Dube, two Indian batsmen, left the field after the game without shaking hands with the Pakistani players, as is usual. The Asia Cup match closes in icy silence as Indian players refuse to shake hands with Pakistan.

After the game, India captain Suryakumar Yadav declared, “We want to dedicate today’s victory to the armed forces, and we stand with the victims of the families of the Pahalgam terror attack, and we express our solidarity.”

Suryakumar dedicated the indian military to his seven-wicket victory over Pakistan.

It’s the ideal moment to take a break. We support the victims and their families in the terror incident in Pahalgam. We show our unity. I want to dedicate the victory to all of our courageous military personnel. At the post-match presentation ceremony, Suryakumar made an impromptu statement: “I hope they continue to inspire us all and we give them more reasons on the ground whenever we get an opportunity to put a smile on their face.”

Following straightforward plans was effective, according to Kuldeep Yadav, who was selected Player of the Match for his 3–18 stats. “Just carry out the plans. Simply observe who is batting and adjust your response. I made plans and carried them out. You merely need to adopt that mindset and execute the first delivery, which is always a ball that takes wickets. He’s facing me for the first time, even though the batter is set. I still believe that my bowling needs a lot of improvement. I think I utilize too many variations sometimes.

Brief scores:

Pakistan 127/9 in 20 overs (Sahibzada Farhan 40, Shaheen Shah Afridi 33 not out; Kuldeep Yadav 3-18, Axar Patel 2-18)

India 131/3 in 15.5 overs (Suryakumar Yadav 41 not out, Abhishek Sharma 31; Saim Ayub 3-22)