Education minister urges calm on H-1B visa fee hike, says Indian education system resilient

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Sept 22 urged students and institutions not to be unsettled by the United States’ sharp increase in H-1B visa application fees, saying India’s higher education system is resilient enough to withstand global uncertainties.

Pradhan said Indian talent has repeatedly proven its worth on the world stage. “There are 50 million students in Indian higher education, out of which only one million go overseas. Our institutions in different parts of the country are of national importance,” he said.

He pointed to the Chandrayaan lunar mission as an example of homegrown achievement, adding that its developers were not necessarily graduates of India’s top-ranked IITs or NITs.

Responding to a question on the visa fee hike, he remarked, “I will not be aggressive on this issue, but I am confident that our IITians, our NITians, IIMians, and state university students are doing excellently in the global economy. You will find our Indian community with a lot of knowledge capacity in any global hot spot of economy across the world.”

The U.S. move, announced last week by President Donald Trump, set a $100,000 annual fee for H-1B applications.

India, which accounts for nearly three-fourths of the 85,000 visas granted annually, is expected to feel the brunt, as many American technology firms rely heavily on Indian professionals.

Pradhan, however, described such developments as temporary challenges. “We have to live in a geopolitical scenario. It is not a new thing. These shocks come up every two to three decades. It is there today. It will be there tomorrow. But as a responsible, progressive, and self-respect-driven country, we have faith in our academics and institutions. From here, we can create global standards, and it is a reality today,” he said.

Emphasizing India’s growing international profile in education, the minister cited IIT Delhi’s campus in Abu Dhabi, IIT Madras in Zanzibar, and IIM Ahmedabad’s new center in Dubai. He said several countries are keen to host Indian institutions of repute.

Turning to domestic reforms, Pradhan praised the National Education Policy 2020 as both “futuristic” and grounded in Indian traditions, highlighting its focus on mother-tongue instruction, skill-based learning, and multidisciplinary study.

On criticism of draft UGC rules regarding vice-chancellor appointments, he accused some states of attempting to “dilute the governor’s authority” in higher education.

The proposal recommends a three-member search panel led by the governor’s nominee, with representation from both the UGC and the concerned university. The ministry has so far received over 1,500 comments on the draft.

When asked about speculation over his political future, including the possibility of becoming the next BJP president, Pradhan was noncommittal.

“Leadership will decide on the appropriate time. My party is democratic, not of families,” he said.