Amid Trump’s Tariffs & H-1B Visa Woes, Is Modi’s Swadeshi Pushback Only a Rhetorical Shield?| Barkha

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s renewed call for swadeshi coincides with the U.S.’s shock announcement of a steep $100,000 H-1B visa fee for new applicants — triggering panic among Indian professionals, students, and families in America. With confusion and uncertainty rising, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar are set for high-stakes talks with U.S. counterparts.

In this episode, Barkha Dutt breaks down the diplomatic, economic, and human impact of the H-1B visa crisis, asking if it could force India to double down on self-reliance and renegotiate its global strategy. A power-packed panel featuring Mohandas Pai, Dhiraj Naiyyar, Ambassador Veena Sikri, and Prasad Duvvuri shares insights on what this moment means for Indian talent and the country’s economic future.