A top US legislator has cautioned that rhetoric and policy uncertainty surrounding the H-1B visa program might harm India-US relations and undermine confidence among skilled workers and businesses at a delicate time in bilateral relationships.

Recent pronouncements aimed at the H-1B program have caused confusion and worry, especially among Indian professionals and businesses, according to Mark Warner, Chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee and Co-Chair of the Senate India Caucus.

Warner remarked, “It again seems to be a large announcement,” alluding to suggested modifications to the show. He pointed out that it was unclear if the $100,000 cost would be one-time or ongoing. “To my knowledge, I’m not sure where the implementation is, but the administration did say it’s a one-time fee,” he stated.

Warner said it was common to have big announcements followed by information that was released later. He remarked, “Mr. Trump’s administration frequently makes a big announcement, but the details take a long time to come.”

He admitted that there are problems with the H-1B system and that it needs to be changed.

Warner stated, “There are areas where we should have H-1B reform,” pointing out that certain businesses have abused the program. “Some businesses, both American and Indian, use this as a labor arbitrage.”

Such actions, according to Warner, are unjust to American workers. “It is unfair to the American workforce that you can bring a talented worker over at a much cheaper price,” he stated.

He did, however, vigorously defend the program’s overall worth. According to Warner, a number of US economic sectors rely on highly qualified foreign workers.

He remarked, “There are many places where you find talent that isn’t just American.”

According to him, people with H-1B visas have been vital to the US economy. Warner stated, “These H-1B visa holders and many who went on to get green cards have made enormous contributions to this country.”

Warner cautioned that using combative language might have negative diplomatic repercussions. He connected trade conflicts, tariffs, and immigration policy to more general tensions in India-US ties. He expressed alarm about the combined effects of tariffs and attacks on the visa program, saying, “It concerns me.”

According to him, India’s standing in the world has evolved and has to be acknowledged. Warner asserted that “India has arrived as a mature, major world player” and that punitive policies might force New Delhi to consider other options.

Warner also mentioned the Indian American diaspora as a factor that kept the connection stable. Many in the society, he claimed, were wondering why India seemed to be singled out. “Even people who once backed Mr. Trump are now asking, ‘Why does India seem to be picked on more than other nations?’” he asked.

He cautioned that trust would be difficult to rebuild. According to Warner, “trust is very easily broken and very hard to repair.”

Indian professionals make up the majority of recipients of the H-1B program, which has long been a pillar of the US technology, healthcare, and research industries.

Analysts claim that immigration policy has symbolic significance for India-US relations, influencing views of transparency, cooperation, and long-term strategic intent.

On Tuesday, medical professionals asked the government to increase funding for government hospitals and implement tax-funded universal health care in the next Union Budget 2026.

The experts also emphasized the necessity of expanding PMJAY to cover outpatient treatment and the inadequacy of funding in public health care facilities to provide sufficient services to a large number of patients.

Dr. Vinay Aggarwal, former National President of the Indian Medical Association, stated, “We support tax-funded universal health care with a basic health package for all citizens and to increase public health allocation to 2.5–5% of GDP, strengthening government hospitals and human resources.”

He went on, “The government should reform PMJAY to include outpatient care, realistic package rates, DBT, copayments, and timely reimbursements.”

The government should “provide GST exemption on lifesaving equipment, consumables, and all vaccines,” the expert added.

The public sector healthcare system is essential to reaching the objective of universal health coverage, according to a recent report published by The Lancet Commission. An related Comment paper analyzes fundamental flaws in the health system and examines India’s progress toward universal health care.

In particular, it identified persisting gaps in quality, equity, and continuity of care, fragmented governance, inadequate coordination across levels of care, and health services organized around institutions rather than citizens as significant obstacles to UHC.

The study pointed out that working in silos can erode accountability and service continuity and recommended that India implement several programs in order to achieve universal health care.

Instead of concentrating on patient journeys and long-term care requirements, healthcare delivery must continue to be facility-centered. Efficiency and results are further limited by inadequate referral mechanisms and inadequate integration between primary, secondary, and tertiary services.

The report emphasized that without institutional capacity to carry out reforms, policy desire alone is insufficient.

According to Aditya Banerjee, a member of the Medical Technology Association of India (MTaI), “the government has increased the allocation for healthcare in its budget over the last few years, but the continued prioritization of capacity building has often left public healthcare facilities with insufficient funds to deliver adequate services to the large number of patients that they serve.”

“Delivering better patient outcomes for every Rupee spent requires a deliberate shift in the public procurement criteria, from the lowest upfront price to the best long-term value for the entire healthcare system,” he continued.

According to Banerjee, it will help prevent the spiraling healthcare expenses that are currently becoming unsustainable in many industrialized economies worldwide.

The IT industry’s top body, Nasscom, stated on Tuesday that the India-EU trade agreement supports job creation, MSME growth in the tech sector, and overall confidence for investors in India’s services sector by strengthening bilateral trade and economic ties.

Dedicated SME chapters with digital platforms and contact information are part of the FTA.

According to Nasscom, the FTA gives Indian IT exporters a hedge against the unpredictability of international trade by diversifying their markets in light of geopolitical risks.

It improves India’s standing in international digital service value chains. In order to better comprehend the operationalization of the FTA clause, we shall wait for the comprehensive draft text,” it continued.

Services benefit more from expanding markets and rule-based predictability than products do from significant tariff reductions.

The benefits would come in the form of improved EU market access for Indian technology, as services are a significant and rapidly expanding sector of both economies.

According to Nasscom, this might reduce non-tariff obstacles and facilitate cross-border deliveries.

“Digital trade regulations that promote business while safeguarding security, privacy, and public policy.” More prospects in Europe, such as simpler cross-border service delivery (Mode 1 under GATS) and possibly better professional mobility (via Mode 4), will benefit Indian IT companies, it said.

In order to facilitate Social Security Agreements with all EU member states within five years, India and the EU have reached a cooperative framework.

Building on the India-EU Trade and Technology Council, the agreement promotes closer cooperation between the EU and India in the fields of technology, innovation, and digitalization.

Increased EU investment in India’s IT sector, joint ventures, AI, semiconductor, clean tech, and startup R&D could result from this. According to Nasscom, technology transfer, co-creation, and increased alliances could be advantageous to Indian IT enterprises.

In particular, the trade agreement empowers labor-intensive industries, MSMEs, women entrepreneurs, craftsmen, and youth—key focal areas of the government’s inclusive growth agenda—by providing Indian exporters with unprecedented market access for a wide range of goods and services.

After an exciting 3-2 victory over Ranchi Royals at Kalinga Hockey Stadium on Monday, the Kalinga Lancers were declared the Hockey India League (HIL) 2025–26 champions.

After winning the championship, Captain Arthur Van Doren considered the difficulties encountered during the season and attributed the triumph to the team’s camaraderie and the backing of the home crowd.

The team’s quick four-week preparation time comes to a close with the championship victory. “Four weeks to build a bond and shape a team is a very short time, and it is extremely challenging,” Arthur added, highlighting the difficulty of creating a cohesive team in such a short amount of time. We are immensely proud of what we have accomplished because of this. I think we did a great job—we built a strong, cohesive team, and it ultimately showed on the field.

When facing the Ranchi Royals, a team they had already faced three times in the competition, Arthur emphasized the importance of maintaining an offensive mindset.

“They are an amazing team to play against, with an extremely aggressive style that also provides excellent spectator entertainment.” What matters most to us is how we performed against one of the top teams in the competition, and we are really proud of that,” he stated.

The Lancers’ strategy was to continue attacking rather than retiring into a completely defensive stance, even as they protected a one-goal advantage in the closing seconds of the game.

“It’s crucial to continue playing our natural game. Sitting back and merely defending is a risk since it lets the enemy launch constant attacks. He continued, “We made sure we remained upbeat, continued to attack, and even though they created a few opportunities, we stood strong together as a unit.”

After winning the league stage and securing their spot in Qualifier 1, the Lancers’ remarkable run saw just one loss throughout the tournament, and that came in a dead rubber match.

“The home crowd is always a huge bonus,” Arthur said, highlighting how the home crowd’s support has contributed to such a good run. Even if it’s only by a few percent, the energy they provide uplifts us and has a significant impact. We have cherished every moment of that amazing atmosphere.

On Tuesday, the Budget Press in North Block hosted the customary Halwa ceremony, which signifies the last phase of planning for the Union Budget 2026–2027.

Union Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary and Union Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs Nirmala Sitharaman attended the function.

The Halwa ceremony is a significant custom that marks the start of the “lock-in” period for budget preparation officials.

In order to maintain total confidentiality until the Budget is presented, these officials are cut off from outside contact after the ceremony.

On February 1, the Union Budget 2026–2027 will be introduced in Parliament.

The secretaries of several Ministry of Finance divisions as well as other senior officials involved in the budget-making process attended the ceremony alongside the Finance Minister.

Additionally, FM Sitharaman went to the Budget Press to assess the last-minute arrangements and wished the entire team working on the Budget the best of luck.

Additionally, the administration declared that all Union Budget documents will be readily accessible to the public in digital format.

These include important documents like the Finance Bill, the Demand for Grants, and the Annual Financial Statement, generally referred to as the Budget.

According to a statement from the Ministry of Finance, “all Union Budget documents, including the Annual Financial Statement (commonly known as Budget), Demand for Grants (DG), and Finance Bill, will also be available on the “Union Budget Mobile App” for hassle-free access of Budget documents by Members of Parliament (MPs) and the general public in a digital accessible mode.”

The Union Budget Mobile App, which is available in Hindi and English, will provide access to the budget papers.

The app is available via the Union Budget website, indiabudget.gov.in, and may be downloaded on iOS and Android devices.

However, only once the Finance Minister concludes her Budget statement in Parliament on February 1 will the Budget documents be accessible on the website and mobile app.

“The Budget documents will be accessible on the website and mobile app following the Union Finance Minister’s Budget Speech in Parliament on February 1,” the ministry further stated.

In the second Twenty20 International at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium in Raipur, India defeated New Zealand by seven wickets with 28 balls left, taking a 2-0 lead in the five-match series. Captain Suryakumar Yadav finally produced a big one, scoring an undefeated 82 while Ishan Kishan contributed a fiery 76.

Additionally, it was India’s second-highest successful chase in T20I history. The Raipur performance surpasses chases of 209/4 against West Indies (Hyderabad, 2019), 209/8 against Australia (Vizag, 2023), and 204/4 against New Zealand (Auckland, 2020), with only India’s 211/4 against Sri Lanka at Mohali in 2009 being higher.

When chasing a target of more than 200, the decisive conclusion was also the largest victory by balls left for a full member nation. It outperformed Australia’s 23-ball triumph over the West Indies in Basseterre in 2025 and Pakistan’s 24-ball victory against New Zealand in Auckland.

India’s answer got off to a shaky start, despite some assistance from the dew. The hosts were suddenly reduced to 6 for 2 when Sanju Samson was dismissed for 6 and Abhishek Sharma made a golden duck. But what came next was an incredible counterattack.

With 122 runs in just 48 balls for the third wicket, Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav abruptly made what had appeared to be a difficult chase seem effortless.

Early on, Kishan’s aggressiveness caused most of the damage. He scored 76 from 32 balls, including a fifty off 21 balls, when he was removed after mis-hitting Ish Sodhi for a catch off his own bowling. The damage was already done by then.

After laboring on 10 from 10 balls at one point, Suryakumar changed course and started to accelerate. As an added benefit, Shivam Dube was pushed up the order to hit a quickfire 36 (200 SR) and helped Suryakumar clinch the chase with ease by helping the fourth wicket partnership score 81 runs.

Just weeks before a home T20 World Cup, Suryakumar concluded with an outstanding 82 from just 37 balls, reiterating his class and significance to the side.

Earlier, Suryakumar Yadav won the toss and decided to bowl, setting a difficult mark for India. Although both openers had strong starts, they were unable to capitalize on them.

With a strong 44 off 26 balls, Rachin Ravindra took the lead. With an undefeated 47 off 27 balls, captain Mitchell Santner gave the innings a significant push and helped the visitors surpass the 200-run threshold.

By staying unbeaten on 15 off 8, Zak Foulkes also made a contribution. New Zealand’s final score was 208/6.

The bowlers from New Zealand got an opportunity to show their abilities that evening, but their performance was disappointing. The previous record of 63 runs established by Liam McCarthy (Ireland) against the West Indies in Bready in 2025 was broken by Zak Foulkes, who had no luck in his three overs and let up 67 runs, the highest ever for a T20I bowler who is a member of one of the full member teams.

Even though Ish Sodhi, Jacob Duffy, and Matt Henry were able to claim one wicket apiece, their three wickets were insufficient to halt India’s barrage of runs. It was an important choice to switch to Foulkes as the first change after Henry got off to a strong start.

Foulkes went for 24 runs in his first over, which was the first time Kishan truly found his flow. After then, New Zealand’s situation deteriorated, and the issues were made worse by a few more lost fielding opportunities.

Kuldeep Yadav was India’s best bowler, capturing two wickets for 35 runs. Shivam Dube, Varun Chakaravarthy, Hardik Pandya, and Harshit Rana all claimed one wicket.

On a surface that favored batting, the remainder of the bowling attack, however, found it difficult to control the score.

Brief scores:

New Zealand 208/6 in 20 overs (Mitchell Santner 47, Rachin Ravindra 44; Kuldeep Yadav 2-35, Hardik Pandya 1-25)
India 209/3 in 15.2 overs (Suryakumar Yadav 82 not out, Ishan Kishan 76; Jacob Duffy 1-38, Ish Sodhi 1-34) won by seven wickets.

International leaders and scholars expressed great confidence in India’s growth story and leadership on Thursday, underscoring the country’s status as a rising global economic force.

According to analysts from around the world, India has not only improved its economy but has become a major player in determining the direction of the global economy.

India’s economic journey under Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been impressive, according to Martin Nilson Jacobi, President and CEO of Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden.

He said that India has developed a strong sense of direction, purpose, and self-assurance on the international scene.

“Prime Minister Modi’s leadership has helped India project real strength internationally, and that effort is now clearly coming together,” he said.

According to Jacobi, India made a big impression in Davos this year and has solidified its place among the world’s leading nations, along with the US, China, and Russia.

Jacobi emphasized India’s long-term potential, stating that the nation is at the forefront of the global economy due to its youthful population and growing opportunities.

He continued by saying that India’s strategic significance is further enhanced by the current geopolitical climate, which makes it a desirable location for long-term international investment, research collaboration, and innovation.

“India’s young population and strong opportunities place it at the forefront of the global economy,” he said.

According to Jacobi, “the current geopolitical conditions further enhance India’s strategic importance, making it a key destination for innovation, research collaboration, and long-term investment.”

Juila Maksim, a professor of diplomatic language at Washington University, had similar opinions, stating that India has developed into a powerful and reliable global economy.

According to her, the Indian people have made a smart leadership decision that will help steer the nation toward greater economic growth, long-term stability, and increased influence on the international scene.

“India has evolved into a strong and credible global economy,” she said.

She clarified, “The Indian people have made a smart leadership decision that will steer the nation toward greater growth, stability, and global influence.”

The Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) GDP growth projections for 2025–2026 show that India will continue to be the world’s fastest growing major economy notwithstanding global concerns.

In an attempt to reduce the risks associated with the external sector, India has made considerable efforts to diversify and boost its exports.

The Central Bank stated in its monthly Bulletin that “the country is currently engaged in trade negotiations with 14 countries or groups, representing nearly 50 nations, including the European Union, Gulf Cooperation Council countries, and the United States.”

The resiliency of the Indian economy, propelled by home reasons amid a difficult foreign environment, was highlighted in the first advance forecasts of real GDP growth for 2025–2026.

December’s high-frequency indicators point to sustained growth impulse buoyancy and positive demand conditions.

Although headline CPI inflation increased slightly in December, it was still below the lower tolerance level.

According to the RBI study, “the flow of financial resources to the commercial sector has increased over the past year, with both non-bank and bank sources contributing to the credit pick-up.”

India concluded trade talks with Oman and New Zealand in December. Major economic reforms were also implemented in 2025, including as the deregulation of the banking sector, the enactment of labor regulations for labor market reforms, and the rationalization of tax structures, all of which are anticipated to improve growth prospects.

The Reserve Bank’s “Report on Trend and Progress of Banking in India 2024-25” highlighted the banking system’s robust profitability, enhanced asset quality, and adequate capital buffers.

The results of the most recent “Financial Stability Report,” which was published in December 2025, confirmed that banks and non-banking financial firms are resilient enough to sustain losses in unfavorable circumstances and keep capital buffers well beyond the legal minimum.

The RBI stated, “Going forward, the policy focus on striking a balance between innovation and stability, consumer protection, and a prudent approach to regulation and supervision should help improve productivity and support long-term economic growth.“

In the T20I series opener at the VCA Stadium in Nagpur on Wednesday, India defeated New Zealand by 48 runs thanks to a brilliant 84 from Abhishek Sharma, an undefeated 44 from Rinku Singh, and two wickets apiece from Varun Chakaravarthy and Shivam Dube.

Abhishek Sharma’s 84 and Rinku Singh’s undefeated 44 helped India to 238/7, their biggest T20I total against New Zealand, setting them up for victory in their preparation for the T20 World Cup next month.

New Zealand was dropped to 52/3 while chasing 239, but Glenn Phillips’ fluid 78 off 40 balls, which included six maximums and four boundaries, kept them in the running.

New Zealand ended up hitting 190/7 in their 20 overs after Mark Chapman scored 39 off 24 balls and their 79-run partnership off 42 balls momentarily raised expectations of a successful chase before both fell in rapid succession. The hosts took a 1-0 lead in the five-game series as India’s bowlers ended the match.

New-ball bowlers Arshdeep Singh and Hardik Pandya each claimed a scalp in addition to Chakaravarthy and Dube. India would be concerned about Axar Patel, who had to leave the field midway through his last over after being struck on the left hand while attempting to stop a boundary from Daryl Mitchell. Jasprit Bumrah, who had returned to the side, was out of rhythm.

Devon Conway edged behind to wicketkeeper Sanju Samson, who made a wonderful low catch to his left off Arshdeep to start New Zealand’s chase on a shaky note. Soon after, Rachin Ravindra edged Hardik for just one.

In an attempt to respond, Phillips and Tim Robinson both struck seven boundaries. However, Chakaravarthy was successful right away after being introduced in the seventh over.

Robinson was tricked in flight and given a straightforward catch to mid-wicket while attempting to go over mid-wicket. But Phillips persisted, hitting Patel for a six over mid-wicket and continuing to find boundaries. Chapman joined him and added urgency by taking on Bumrah and Chakaravarthy.

Bumrah resumed his attack and created an opportunity right away, but Rinku caught Chapman at deep backward square-leg. Soon after, Phillips reached his half-century in 29 balls. He then carried on his assault by driving Chakaravarthy for runs through the off-side and lofting him for a six over long-on.

Chapman joined in by clipping Axar for boundaries after hitting a six over wide long-on. But in the 14th over, Phillips was caught by long-on off Axar, ending a risky innings that had kept New Zealand in the hunt. Chapman continued to push boundaries, but risks were unavoidable as the asking rate increased.

After holing out to long-on off Chakaravarthy, he was dismissed in the fifteenth over. Together, Mitchell Santner and Daryl Mitchell hit six boundaries in an attempt to reignite the pursuit. However, India’s death bowlers persevered, as Dube dismissed Mitchell and Kristian Clarke on consecutive deliveries to enable India secure a convincing victory.

He was discussing it, but I haven’t noticed. However, it’s simply what we’ve been doing since Day After winning Player of the Match, Abhishek Sharma remarked, “One that we had a plan that we want to play this kind of cricket, and that’s what we are just following.”

“I think you may get an idea of where the ball is going to bowl you or even where I’m going to play my strokes if you watch videos or watch your hitting films as well. However, because I don’t have many shots, it’s always about me backing them. He continued, “It’s just a few shots, and I’m going to practice a lot about that and just execute it.”

“I think it’s always good when we get those numbers on the board, and if there’s a little bit of dew on the board, I think that’s a big positive. And the way we batted, we were 25-2 even after being under pressure in the powerplay, and then we took the game until the fifteenth over, at which point we never stopped all the batters. I mean, having eight batters seems like a decent idea. At the end of the match, India captain Suryakumar Yadav remarked, “It’s been working for me as a team, so if it’s working, let’s continue with that.”

Mitchell Santner, the captain, stated that New Zealand anticipated a difficult match against India. “I believe it was. As you mentioned, you certainly want to win the game going ahead. We had a pleasant day. At home, India is an excellent squad. We were aware of that. Their performance over the past two years has been exceptional. We had a successful game.

Brief scores:
India 238/7 in 20 overs (Abhishek Sharma 84, Rinku Singh 44 not out; Jacob Duffy 2-27, Kyle Jamieson 2-54)
New Zealand 190/7 in 20 overs (Glenn Phillips 78, Mark Chapman 39; Shivam Dube 2-28, Varun Chakaravarthy 2-37) lost by 48 runs