Nov 6: India, The Global Talent Engine, Starlink's Maharashtra Debut

Zohran Mamdani, the 34-year-old democrat and son of filmmaker Mira Nair, is NY city's newly elected Mayor and the first South Asian and Muslim to take the office. But the real headline was his victory speech mic drop: he ended it by quoting Jawaharlal Nehru ... followed immediately by the title track, “Dhoom Machale.” This is the ultimate main character energy, proving that the only thing better than The Big Apple politics is Bollywood.

Now, let’s get into the Dispatch! 🚀

Today’s reading time is 6 mins.

The Global Talent Engine: For years, it has been an open secret: Indian workers are everywhere. From the ICUs in London to software floors in California to construction sites in the Gulf, Indians have been the invisible backbone of global skilled labour markets. Now it’s official. According to the latest OECD report, India has become the world’s largest source of skilled migrants, sending nearly 600,000 workers to advanced economies in 2023 alone, more than any other country. This isn’t just about numbers. It’s about who is migrating, and why the world wants them.

The Healthcare Engine: One of the sectors where India’s presence is impossible to ignore is healthcare. India is now among the top three countries supplying foreign-trained doctors to OECD nations, and among the top two sources of migrant nurses. The UK’s Health & Care Worker visa, Ireland’s International Medical Graduate Training Initiative, and similar pathways have created structured, legal routes for Indian healthcare professionals to move. These aren’t “brain drain” pathways, they are talent pipelines responding to acute shortages abroad. Simply put: Indian doctors and nurses kept entire health systems running during and after the pandemic. And the world noticed.

Beyond The Hospital, The Skills Spectrum Broadens: The trend is no longer limited to hospitals. Australia is recruiting Indian workers for aged care. Southern Europe is seeking Indian teachers and service workers. Tech and construction sectors continue to absorb Indian talent where local skill gaps persist. This shift marks a departure from the old narrative of Indians leaving for “cash-rich” Gulf jobs. Today’s migration is structured, skilled, and increasingly female, with more women entering caregiving, education, and healthcare roles abroad.

The Fine Print: Demand is High, Rules Are Tight: Countries are tightening work visa rules to ensure fair wages, verified contracts, and compliance but demand isn’t slowing. If anything, it is rising. Ageing populations in Europe and chronic workforce gaps mean the world needs talent and India has it.

What This Means for India: This is both an opportunity and a warning. India is exporting skills faster than it is replenishing them especially in healthcare. While the global market sees Indian talent as capable, reliable, and essential - it’s critical for India to be able to retain and provide opportunities for this talent domestically. 

Satellite internet in India just moved from speculation to rollout. Maharashtra has become the first state in the country to sign a formal Letter of Intent with Starlink, Elon Musk’s satellite communications company. The partnership aims to bring high-speed internet to rural, remote and underserved regions, areas where laying fibre has either been too slow or too expensive to scale. The agreement was announced in Mumbai, with Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis present, alongside Starlink executive Lauren Dreyer. For Maharashtra, this ties directly into its “Digital Maharashtra” mission, expanding connectivity to government schools, health centres, tribal belts and difficult terrain districts like Gadchiroli, Nandurbar and Washim.

Why Satellite Internet Matters: Traditional broadband infrastructure in India has grown fast but unevenly. Urban and peri-urban regions have raced ahead, while remote districts still struggle with patchy connectivity. Laying fibre in forested, mountainous or sparsely populated regions is slow, costly and often not commercially viable. This is where Starlink’s low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite network is designed to step in delivering high-speed internet without needing ground cables. The company projects this as not just a technology solution, but a digital inclusion tool. Schools with no network. Health centres with no telemedicine. Panchayats running offline. Those are the targets.

Starlink’s India Entry Is Now Taking Shape: The partnership signals that Starlink is moving from regulatory paperwork to operational execution. The company has already begun preparing earth gateway stations across Indian cities, lining up the back-end infrastructure needed before commercial rollout. It still requires final licensing, spectrum clearances, and government vetting but this state-level partnership is a strong indicator of confidence and intent.

Paytm Shifts Focus To Merchants & AI: Paytm reported a 24% jump in revenue, with the company now shifting its emphasis toward strengthening merchant services and expanding loyalty offerings. CEO Vijay Shekhar Sharma stated AI-enabled solutions as a key growth lever going forward. The company aims to deepen merchant engagement and boost transaction stickiness.

SAIL Bokaro Marks Breakthrough In Specialty Steel: SAIL’s Bokaro Steel Plant has successfully produced electrical steel domestically for the first time, marking a significant step toward reducing imports. This steel is crucial for transformers and other electrical equipment. The achievement aligns with India’s goal of strengthening manufacturing self-reliance. Further production and quality testing phases are expected to follow.

India–New Zealand Trade Talks: India and New Zealand are exploring ways to deepen trade cooperation with a long-term partnership view. Discussions include improving market access for goods, boosting dairy and horticulture collaboration, and working on mobility and services ties.

India To Cut Russian Oil Imports: India is set to sharply reduce direct imports of Russian crude from late November after new U.S. sanctions hit key Russian oil firms. Major refiners, including Reliance and state-owned companies, are preparing to pause direct purchases and shift to alternatives from the Middle East, Africa, Latin America, and the U.S. While Russian oil will still enter India via more indirect or complex routes, volumes are expected to fall in the coming months.

Nvidia Deep-Tech Alliance In India: Nvidia has joined the $2 billion India Deep Tech Alliance as a founding member to mentor startups in AI, semiconductors, robotics, and space tech. The company will provide training, tools, and ecosystem support, boosting India’s push to strengthen its deep-tech innovation capabilities.