If India plays its cards right, suspension of PERM may be an opportunity: Priyank Kharge
Karnataka's IT-BT Minister sees opportunity for local tech growth after the US suspends Indian firms from a key green card program.
Reported by The Hindu — Karnataka · context written by Hushread
In brief
- The US suspended eight major Indian tech companies from the PERM program, affecting green card sponsorship for workers.
- Karnataka's Minister Priyank Kharge believes this could attract more tech investment and talent to India.
- The state is focusing on AI skilling, deep tech innovation, and sustainable data center policies to strengthen its tech ecosystem.
- Karnataka claims to have a large share of India's tech workforce and is pushing for industry-aligned education and upskilling.
- The government is partnering with private firms to support deep tech startups and is prioritizing solutions to real-world problems.
What happened
The US government suspended eight major Indian technology companies, including Infosys, TCS, Wipro, and HCLTech, from the Permanent Labour Certification (PERM) program. This program is a key route for employer-sponsored green cards, and the suspension creates uncertainty for Indian tech workers and could increase costs for Indian companies.
Why it matters
The suspension affects Indian tech professionals who rely on US green cards for work opportunities, as well as the companies that sponsor them. Karnataka's government sees this as a chance to strengthen its local tech ecosystem, attract investment, and retain talent by focusing on skills development, AI, and sustainable policies.
How we got here
The PERM program has been an important pathway for Indian tech workers to secure US green cards through employer sponsorship. Recent changes by the US government have suspended several Indian firms from this process, prompting Karnataka to respond with new policies and a focus on deep tech, AI skilling, and sustainable infrastructure.
What happens next
Observers should watch for increased investment in Karnataka's tech sector, new AI and deep tech initiatives, and further policy changes aimed at building a robust local talent pool. These are expectations based on current statements and plans.