'Reverse migration': Anupam Mittal says Silicon Valley professionals are returning to Bengaluru, Mumbai

Anupam Mittal weighs in on reverse migration

India is no longer just a source of talent for the world. It is becoming a destination of choice for top professionals. Skilled workers who once saw their careers abroad are now returning or choosing to stay, drawn by opportunities at home and the country’s growing tech ecosystem.

Entrepreneur and investor Anupam Mittal, founder of Shaadi.com, highlighted this shift, noting that India is now retaining world-class talent. “Indian talent is no longer poor,” he said in a LinkedIn post, pointing to the rise of highly skilled professionals building their careers in cities like Bengaluru and Mumbai.

Two decades ago, Mittal said building a team for his startup was not easy. He explained, “If you could speak English and didn’t blink for ten minutes, you were hired. Today, it’s different. I’ve spent the last six months hiring for the mid and senior levels. The depth of talent isn’t just better, it’s world-class.”

Mittal described the current trend as reverse migration. Professionals who might have stayed in Silicon Valley a decade ago are now choosing Bengaluru or Mumbai, not out of necessity but because of meaningful work in India. “Yes, tighter immigration policies abroad have helped. But that’s not the story,” he said.

According to Mittal, several factors are behind this change. India now has internet-first companies that offer challenging work in AI, fintech, cloud computing, and product development. There is a skilled workforce providing strong engineers and designers, which makes it easier to build teams domestically. Capital and scale are now available in India, offering professionals the chance to take ownership and make an impact.

“We used to import talent. Now we manufacture it at scale. Reverse migration is a headline. The digital ecosystem is the plot. Are we finally over the settling abroad obsession, or have we just found a better reason to stay?” Mittal asked.

Many on social media welcomed Mittal’s views, highlighting how India now provides opportunities that go beyond salary. One wrote, “India now offers capital, scale, ownership, and a real shot at global impact, not just salary arbitrage. The real question isn’t whether talent is coming back. It’s whether we can build companies worthy of that talent. If we get culture, ownership, and ambition right, this shift is structural, not temporary.”

Another noted that Indians now have better reasons to stay in India, “Interesting. Probably Indians have found better reasons to stay and that is quite evident. We are now creating better work environments with knowledge to scale and support to implement.”

A third said, “This is such an enlightening perspective on the evolution of talent in India. It is incredible to see how far we have come from the early days of hiring challenges to now having a world-class talent pool.”

One user explained, “This is spot on. India no longer just imports talent. It cultivates world-class skills at home. The ecosystem, product culture, and digital opportunities have matured so much that top talent now chooses India by opportunity, not necessity. The reverse migration isn’t luck. It is the result of two decades of building a thriving ecosystem.”