Indian Diaspora Current Affairs for UPSC (GS Paper II)

October 2026

• 12 Oct 2026

  US suspends IT giants from green card program

  The U.S. Department of Labour has suspended several major IT firms, including Infosys, Tata, and Wipro, as well as Microsoft and Adobe, from the PERM (Permanent Employment Certification) program. This move impacts the process for...

• 11 Oct 2026

  Indian IT Majors Face US PERM Green Card Suspension

  The United States Department of Labor has temporarily suspended several major IT services firms, including TCS, Infosys, and Wipro, along with global technology giants, from the permanent labor certification (PERM) program. The measure...

September 2026

• 09 Sep 2026

  US Department of Labor Suspends PERM Green Card Filings for Major IT Employer

  The United States Department of Labor has temporarily suspended PERM labor certification filings for technology major Cognizant following an inquiry into immigration compliance. The PERM process is a mandatory first step for foreign...

August 2026

• 28 Aug 2026

  Proposed US H-1B Fee Increase Draws Concern from Indian Tech Industry

  The US Department of Homeland Security has proposed fixing the H-1B visa application fee at over 100,000 dollars, drawing sharp criticism from NASSCOM. The industry body noted that Indian IT companies have significantly reduced reliance...

• 27 Aug 2026

  NASSCOM opposes proposed US H-1B visa fee hike

  India's premier tech association, NASSCOM, has strongly opposed a proposal by the US Department of Homeland Security to set the H-1B visa fee at 103,265 dollars. NASSCOM pointed out that Indian IT companies have already reduced their...

• 22 Aug 2026

  UN Welcomes Sri Lankan Initiative to Facilitate Return of Refugees from India

  The United Nations welcomed initiatives launched by the Sri Lankan government to facilitate the voluntary repatriation of Tamil refugees residing in India. The process aims to streamline documentation, citizenship verification, and...

• 01 Aug 2026

  Supreme Court Mandates DNA Testing for Indians Killed in Ukraine

  The Supreme Court has directed the Centre to facilitate DNA testing to identify the mortal remains of Indian nationals killed during the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The court also ordered the Ministry of External Affairs to provide legal...

July 2026

• 28 Jul 2026

  Gulf Nations Account for Over 70 Percent of Overseas Indian Suicides

  Data from the Ministry of External Affairs reveals that Gulf nations account for more than 70 percent of suicides committed by Indian citizens residing abroad. This highlight points to severe socio-economic distress, harsh working...

• 21 Jul 2026

  Death of Indian Seafarers off Odessa Sparks Maritime Safety Concerns

  Four Indian seafarers were killed in a missile strike on a commercial vessel leaving Ukraine's Odessa Port, prompting a strong condemnation from India's Ministry of External Affairs. The government reiterated its firm opposition to...

• 19 Jul 2026

  United States Tightens Visa Rules for Indian Scholars and Media

  The US Department of Homeland Security has introduced significant regulatory modifications within the F, J, and I visa categories, citing heightened national security concerns. These changes will lead to tighter scrutiny and revised...

• 17 Jul 2026

  Privacy debate over new US visa vetting rules

  Privacy experts have raised concerns over the United States' new social media vetting requirements for visa applicants, comparing the aggressive data-harvesting approach to authoritarian measures. While applicants technically have the...

• 17 Jul 2026

  Trump's "veteran-first" policy hits Indian truckers

  Former US President Donald Trump's proposed "veteran-first" trucking initiative has raised concerns among Indian-origin, particularly Sikh, truck drivers in the United States. The plan seeks to incentivize shipping companies to hire...

• 17 Jul 2026

  India issues advisory for shipping in Strait of Hormuz

  Following attacks on vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, the Directorate General of Shipping has advised companies to avoid deploying Indian seafarers on ships passing through this volatile route. The advisory follows incidents where 30...

• 15 Jul 2026

  Escalating US-Iran War Strains Global Energy and Indian Diaspora

  The escalation of the US-Iran conflict, marked by US airstrikes on Iranian bases and the reimposition of an energy blockade, has pushed global crude prices to 86 dollars per barrel. For India, the conflict is double-edged, resulting in...

• 15 Jul 2026

  Tensions Rise Over Strait of Hormuz Transits

  Security concerns have spiked in the Strait of Hormuz after an Indian national was killed in an attack on an oil tanker. The External Affairs Ministry summoned the Iranian envoy to convey deep concerns and urge de-escalation, while...

• 12 Jul 2026

  Shipping Risks Escalate Amid West Asia Conflicts

  Following an attack on a commercial vessel off the coast of Oman, India has successfully rescued 10 Indian crew members while searching for one missing mariner. The Ministry of External Affairs expressed deep concern over the persistent...

• 09 Jul 2026

  Sri Lankan Prison Riots Highlight Critical Need for Reform

  The death of an Indian national from Kerala in Sri Lanka's Negombo prison during violent riots has drawn attention to severe issues in the country's penal system. Editorial analyses emphasize that Sri Lanka must do more to prevent...