An escalation by AmericaThe Trump administration’s abrupt announcement to impose a staggering $100,000 fee on new H-1B visa applications marks an unprecedented escalation in the U.S.’s immigration policy. This hasty measure, cloaked as a curb on programme “abuse”, threatens to upend the livelihoods of thousands of skilled Indian professionals and cripple India’s IT sector.There is no denying the policy’s chilling effect. This is not mere reform but economic warfare disguised as protectionism.Such duplicity undermines the U.S.-India strategic partnership. India’s government bears equal blame for this vulnerability. Despite years of warnings, New Delhi failed to secure a bilateral mobility pact or long-term H-1B framework. Proactive diplomacy, perhaps tying visa reforms to defence deals or trade concessions, could have mitigated this blow.This policy risks broader fallout — stifling U.S. tech talent pipelines, inflating costs for American consumers, and straining bilateral ties at a geopolitically tense juncture.K.J. Haroon Basha,Vaniyambadi, Tamil NaduIndia must not be cowed down by such blackmailing and leverage this as an opportunity to harness the skills of the tech savvy. At the same time, the ongoing trade negotiations could turn out to be meaningless if the U.S. continues to target India with such venom.Balakrishnan M.K.,New DelhiAfter the tariff weapon, it ís the ‘visa missile’ that the U.S. President Donald Trump has planned to use against India. Indian software employees are noted for their calibre and are less expensive to hire. In the end, it is economic advantages and profit that matter to any entrepreneur or giant. Mr. Trump seems to be going against the dynamics of the market economy and could face defeat.At the same time, this is a lesson for India and it should view Mr. Trump’s policies as the catalyst that reshapes India’s policies and programmes. There needs to be steady progress now to make India self-reliant.A.G. Rajmohan,Anantapur, Andhra PradeshIndia loses thousands of skilled workers each year. Bright minds in engineering and tech fields pack up and leave for better jobs abroad. Multinational companies lure them with fat pay cheques. Domestic firms just cannot match those offers. These talented Indians fuel growth in their new workplaces. They also help build stronger economies elsewhere. Back home, the country misses out on their skills.The Indian government must step up and offer tax breaks or grants to keep talent here. A visa fee issue is not a setback. It is a golden chance to let India grow.Chandran Chaithram,Cherukunnu, Kannur, KeralaAward for actorThe decision to confer the Dadasaheb Phalke Award on actor Mohanlal is well-thought-out. For decades, Lalettan’s remarkable versatility has transcended linguistic boundaries, making him a beacon of excellence in Indian cinema. In his transformative performances, from intense drama such as Thanmathra to a gripping thriller such as Drishyam, he has shown a great depth that few actors possess.Veda Chidanand,BengaluruExam and evaluationI am writing on behalf of the NEET PG 2025 aspirant community to highlight concerns regarding the recent NEET PG examination evaluation process. The key issues are as follows: Numerous candidates have reported significant discrepancies in their NEET PG 2025 results, with high differences, despite high numbers of attempted questions and correct answers. The NBEMS has not released individual response sheets or an official answer key, making it impossible for aspirants to verify their scores or understand how marks were awarded. Many candidates with identical numbers of attempted questions and similar answer patterns have received widely varying scores, raising concerns about the accuracy of evaluation. Repeated requests for clarification, re-evaluation, or release of response sheets have not yielded a constructive response.Dr. Jay K. Sen,Visnagar, GujaratPublished - September 22, 2025 12:24 am IST