Back to the future: Reimagining the world of Indian IT

The US's H-IB squeeze is a reminder of the opportunity and potential for world-class innovation for Indian IT at home even as it doubles down on existing partnerships abroad and striking new ones

- S Ramadorai

In my five decades in the IT industry, I have come to accept one enduring truth, that “uncertainty is the only certainty”.

The recent hike in H-IB visa application fees is a reminder of this. It brings back memories of disruptions such as the dotcom collapse, the 2008 financial crisis, and the Covid-19 pandemic. Each of these seemed existential at the time, yet out of them emerged resilience and renewed confidence in the Indian IT sector's ability to adapt.

The US-India technology corridor, meanwhile, has long thrived on complementary partnerships. The H-IB visa was a policy innovation that addressed America’s consistent shortage of STEM professionals. It powered US innovation while enabling Indian talent to contribute globally. However, as costs rise, the larger story now is less about compliance, but more about how India can build resilience in its talent pipelines and recalibrate partnerships. Indian firms have already been reducing visa-dependency over the years through local hiring, reskilling, and hybrid delivery models. While policy measures may cause short-term friction, they cannot undo the strength of the US-India technology collaboration.

The story of Indian IT has always been one of adaptability. Each crisis tested us, but also revealed our potential. The dotcom bust revealed the hollowness of the stereotype that Indian IT was simply “cheap labour”. That view was never accurate. What truly defined the IT sector was a talent ecosystem of disciplined, creative, and determined professionals with a can-do attitude and solution-mindset, who built trust through innovation and impeccable execution.