Union commerce minister Piyush Goyal has said that tighter US H-1B visa rules could strengthen India’s startup ecosystem by encouraging companies and skilled workers to build more operations in Indian cities.
Speaking as guest of honour at the Economic Times Startup Awards 2026, Goyal said Indian companies and talent would not necessarily be harmed by changes to the US visa regime. He argued that restrictions on visas for Indian IT workers could instead accelerate the growth of India’s technology and business services base.
Goyal said the pandemic had changed the need for employees to be physically present in the markets where their employers are located. “The pandemic has changed things dramatically, since much work no longer requires physical presence and can be done from home or offshore. Only a few people may need to go,” he said.
According to Goyal, a larger share of work is now moving to Bengaluru, Noida, Mumbai and Hyderabad as global businesses recognise the value of establishing operations in India. He also referred to the presence of global capability centres, or GCCs, in Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Pune.
GCCs typically allow multinational companies to conduct technology, research, finance, insurance and other specialised functions from Indian locations. In his remarks, Goyal said the shift could create more opportunities for Indian professionals and startups without requiring as many workers to relocate overseas.
The minister said he held 19 one-on-one meetings with global business leaders during a recent visit to the United States. He said the companies represented in those meetings had combined valuations of $50 billion to $60 billion and had described plans to expand in India.
“Manufacturers and insurers alike want a presence in the country. One of the largest investors in the US wants to put $100-150 billion into India given the scale of opportunity,” Goyal said. The remarks did not identify the investor or provide details of a specific investment commitment.
The comments come after the Trump administration’s latest curbs affecting H-1B visas for Indian IT workers, according to the report. The H-1B programme is widely used by technology and other companies to move specialised employees to the US, while Indian professionals and technology services firms have historically been among its major users.
For Indian cities, the immediate implication identified by Goyal is a possible increase in demand for local technology, research and corporate services capacity. Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune, Mumbai and Noida already host offices and GCCs serving international businesses, although the minister did not announce a new government scheme, investment approval or employment target at the event.
Goyal’s argument is that companies can increasingly serve global markets from India, reducing the need for routine physical relocation while expanding work handled from Indian centres. He said being denied H-1B visas could therefore give the country’s startup ecosystem a fillip.
