US visa restrictions, AI surge shape cautious outlook for Indian IT in 2026
India’s USD 280-billion IT industry heads into 2026, balancing visa-related headwinds and global trade uncertainty against its biggest-ever push into artificial intelligence and the rapid expansion of global capability centres (GCCs).
Heightened scrutiny of the US H-1B visa programme — including a proposed USD 100,000 fee for new visas and concerns over a potential 25 per cent outsourcing tax – has complicated cross-border delivery for Indian firms, even as companies accelerate efforts to reduce reliance on onsite staffing.
