(a) whether the Human Development Report 2001 released worldwide, the UN
Development Programme has estimated that approximately half of the 2 lakh H-1B
visas to be issued annually by the US over the next three years are likely to go to
Indian software and computer professionals;
(b) if so, whether the UNDP report has also identified Bangalore as a top of global IT
hub; and
(c) if so, the other main points mentioned in the Human Development Report, 2001?
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE DEPARTMENT OF
DISINVESTMENT, MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRIES OF PLANNING,
STATISTICS & PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION AND MINISTER OF STATE
IN THE DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATIVE REFORMS AND PUBLIC
GRIEVANCES (SHRI ARUN SHOURIE)
(a): No, Sir. UNDP has not released any estimates of H-1B visas to be issued
by United States over the next three years. However, the report mentions (page 38) that
the United States, in 2000, approved legislation allowing 195,000 more working visas
each year for skilled professionals. It also mentions in another context at page 5 that
100,000 Indian professionals a year are expected to take visas to United States.
(b): The reference to Bangalore in the report as one of the most dynamic
global hubs is based on Wired rating it as 11th among the 46 hubs in the world.
(c ): The entire `Human Development Report 2001` is available on the website of
UNDP (http://www.undp.org).