New Delhi: India on Friday (September 5) defended the H-1B visa programme as a cornerstone of its partnership with the US even as the scheme comes under sharper attack in American political debates.

Asked about the issue at the weekly media briefing, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the H-1B framework was central to bilateral ties.

“The mobility partnership between India and the United States is an important pillar of our relationship. It supports technology collaboration, economic collaboration, innovation, emerging technologies and financial cooperation. We value it, as it brings mutual benefit to both sides,” he said.

Jaiswal added that while the programme created opportunities for skilled Indian professionals, it also strengthened US competitiveness.

He also emphasised that New Delhi remained in dialogue with Washington on mobility issues.

The H-1B visa allows US companies to hire foreign professionals in speciality occupations in fields including technology and engineering. Indians account for more than 70% of H-1B visas issued each year.

The visa debate is unfolding against a backdrop of strained bilateral ties, after Washington recently imposed tariffs of up to 50% on Indian imports.

The MEA spokesperson’s remarks also come as the H-1B visa is again becoming a flashpoint in the US. Florida governor Ron DeSantis and US commerce secretary Howard Lutnick have both called the programme a “scam” that displaces American workers.

The Donald Trump administration has also signalled reforms, including replacing the lottery with a wage-based system that could take effect by March 2026.

The controversy builds on earlier divisions within the MAGA movement. Last year before the inauguration of the Trump administration, billionaire Elon Musk defended the H-1B programme, arguing that the US needed the “top 0.1%” of global engineering talent to stay competitive, while former Republican presidential candidate contender Vivek Ramaswamy said America was “venerating mediocrity over excellence” and should welcome high-skilled immigration.

Their stance clashed with MAGA hardliners, who view the visas as undercutting US workers.

Trump himself surprised observers by describing H-1B as “a great programme”, despite earlier promising to clamp down on it.

An Axios report this week noted that the visa issue is increasingly being framed in Washington not just as an economic matter but as part of a broader cultural confrontation with India, alongside disputes over tariffs.

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