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End of H-1B Lottery Signals Major Shift in US Skilled Immigration Policy

December 25, 2025

A Structural Redesign of the H-1B System

The United States has announced a fundamental overhaul of the H-1B visa programme, scrapping the long-standing lottery system and replacing it with a weighted, wage-based selection model. Effective from February 27, 2026, the change will apply to the FY 2027 H-1B cap cycle, covering around 85,000 visas annually. While framed as a move towards “merit-based” migration, the reform carries major implications for India, which accounts for over 70% of H-1B recipients.

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China Emerges as De Facto Oil Price Stabiliser in 2025

December 25, 2025

A Turning Point in Global Oil Pricing

For decades, global oil prices were shaped primarily by production decisions taken by OPEC and its allies (OPEC+). That assumption was decisively challenged in 2025, when China, the world’s largest crude oil importer, emerged not merely as a price-taker but as a price stabiliser. Instead of altering output, China influenced prices through strategic use of crude oil storage, shaping both the floor and ceiling of the market.

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India’s Export Growth Conceals a Widening Regional Divide

December 25, 2025

Export Strength and the Illusion of Uniform Progress

Despite a weakening rupee that places India among Asia’s poorer-performing currencies, national export figures remain resilient. However, a closer examination of the RBI Handbook of Statistics on Indian States 2024–25 reveals a structurally uneven reality. India’s export growth is becoming increasingly concentrated, challenging the long-held belief that exports automatically drive broad-based development.

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India’s Export Growth Masks a Deepening Regional Divide

December 25, 2025

Export Numbers and the Illusion of Uniform Growth

Despite a weakening rupee and slowing global trade, India’s export figures continue to appear resilient at the national level. However, a closer reading of the RBI Handbook of Statistics on Indian States 2024–25 reveals a structurally uneven picture. Export growth in India is becoming increasingly concentrated, raising concerns about its role as a driver of inclusive development.

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Supreme Court Flags Child Trafficking as Modern Slavery, Issues Key Guidelines

December 25, 2025

Supreme Court on the Reality of Child Trafficking

Calling child trafficking a “deeply disturbing reality”, the Supreme Court of India has reaffirmed that one of the gravest forms of modern slavery continues to persist despite legal safeguards. In a December 19 judgment arising from the sexual exploitation of a minor by an organised trafficking network in Bengaluru, the Court upheld convictions under the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act (ITPA) and laid down crucial principles for adjudicating child trafficking cases.

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