The recent decision by US President Donald Trump to increase H-1B visa fees to $100,000 has ignited a significant debate in India about reversing the decades-long brain drain. Indian policymakers are actively encouraging skilled professionals to return home and contribute to the nation’s development. A senior bureaucrat close to Prime Minister Narendra Modi revealed that the government is intensifying efforts to attract overseas Indians back to the country. Meanwhile, a member of the PM’s economic advisory council argued that the H-1B visa fee hike could benefit India by making it a more attractive destination for global talent. The core idea is to capitalize on the current situation to lure back highly skilled professionals in technology, medicine, and innovation who left India over the past 30 years. However, experts caution that while anecdotal evidence suggests some Indians are considering returning, large-scale reverse migration remains a challenge. Nithin Hassan, a former Meta employee who gave up a $1 million job to return to Bengaluru, exemplifies this trend. He launched B2I (Back to India), a platform assisting NRIs in navigating the complexities of relocating. Hassan noted a surge in inquiries following Trump’s policy shifts, with queries tripling since his second term began. Other headhunters, like Shivani Desai of BDO Executive Search, reported a 30% increase in Ivy League graduates exploring return options. The rise of Global Capability Centres (GCCs) in India has also created viable opportunities for returning professionals. Yet, critics like Sanjaya Baru, former media adviser to PM Manmohan Singh, argue that the government must take more proactive steps to identify and incentivize top talent to return. Despite these efforts, India faces significant push factors, including poor infrastructure, bureaucratic hurdles, and a challenging business environment, which have driven many high-earning Indians to seek citizenship elsewhere. To truly reverse the brain drain, experts emphasize the need for comprehensive reforms, including simplified tax laws, targeted incentives, and improved R&D ecosystems.