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Jay Chaudhry, Net Worth $17.9 Billion

With a net worth of $17.9 billion, Jay Chaudhry, CEO of Zscaler, is the richest Indian American billionaire and one of the 10 wealthiest immigrants in the USA. His journey from a small Himalayan village to Wall Street is an inspiring story of American Dream. Born in a remote village without running water in Himachal Pradesh, Jay Chaudhry is a leading cyber security business tycoon in San Francisco Bay Area. He co-founded Zscaler, a virtual security check-post for companies exposed to cyber threats, in San Jose after a short stint in sales and marketing positions at MNCs like IBM. He is an alumnus of Harvard University and the University of Cincinnati. Unlike other billionaires, he says “My success so far has mainly been because I have very little attachment for money. I definitely do not feel like a billionaire even with a multibillion-dollar fortune.”

Vinod Khosla, Net Worth $9.2 Billion

Vinod Khosla’s net worth has swelled to $9.2 billion from USD 2.3 billion in 2020. Sun Microsystems’ ex-cofounder Vinod Khosla is now the second richest of all Indian American billionaires, according to Forbes 2025. An alumnus of Mount St Mary’s School in New Delhi, he studied at IIT Delhi, Carnegie Mellon University, and Stanford Graduate School of Business. A newspaper article on the founding of Intel piqued his interest in technology when he was a teenager. He established Khosla Ventures, a venture capital firm in Menlo Park, California and co-founded the Indus Entrepreneurs (NiE), a non-profit network of entrepreneurs.

Rakesh Gangwal, Net Worth $6.6 Billion

Miami-based Rakesh Gangwal, with a net worth of $6.6 billion, is on Forbes 2025 list of richest immigrants in America. A former co-founder of IndiGo, India’s largest low-cost airline, Rakesh Gangwal topped the list of 10 Indian-origin American billionaires in 2018. With a drastic dip in his fortunes due to the pandemic’s impact on aviation, Kolkata–born Rakesh Gangwal’s net worth dropped to $2.3 billion in 2020. An alumnus of IIM Lucknow in mechanical engineering, he studied MBA at Wharton School of Pennsylvania University and fulfilled his American Dream when he became the Chairman of US Airways Group after a stint in strategic planning for United Airlines in 1984. He founded InterGlobe Aviation Ltd. in 2000 and co-founded IndiGo in 2006. Today, IndiGo is the Indian airline in terms of domestic market share.

Romesh T. Wadhwani, Net Worth $5 Billion  

Symphony Technology Group’s founder and CEO Romesh T. Wadhwani from California with a net worth of $5bn continues to be among the 10 richest Indian American billionaires in 2025. His fortunes rose from $3.4 billion in 2020. Romesh Wadhwani is not just the richest Gujarati Indian entrepreneur in USA but a compassionate philanthropist too. His family shifted from Pakistan to India during the 1947 Partition. He is an alumnus of IIT Bombay in electrical engineering and holds a PhD degree from Carnegie Mellon University. Romesh T. Wadhwani is a self-made serial entrepreneur. He set up the Wadhwani Foundation with several initiatives including the National Entrepreneurship Network to drive socio-economic development in countries like India. In 2012, he opened a research center at the National Center for Biological Sciences in Bengaluru.

Rajiv Jain, Net Worth $4.7bn 

Forbes 2025 list of richest immigrants in America features Rajiv Jain with a net worth of $4.7 billion among 12 Indian American billionaires. Born and raised in north India, Rajiv Jain is the founder, chairman and chief investment officer of GQG Partners, a Fort Lauderdale-based global investment firm managing over $150 billion in assets. He moved to the US in the early 1990s to pursue MBA at the University of Miami. He started his career as an equity analyst and had a progressive career spanning two decades at Vontobel Asset Management where he became co-CEO in 2014. His firm is closely tied to India, with major stakes in ITC, HDFC, RIL, ICICI Bank, SBI, Sun Pharma, Infosys, Bharti Airtel, Adani Group, and more.

Kavitark Ram Shriram, Net Worth $3bn 

With a net worth of $3 billion, Kavitark Ram Shriram stands sixth among the richest Indian Americans in 2025.  Among the early investors in Google, Kavitark was born in Chennai and graduated in mathematics at Chennai’s Loyola College. Based in California, he worked for Jeff Bezos, the founder and CEO of Amazon, before making headlines for his investment worth $250,000 in Google. A board member of Google’s parent company, Alphabet, Kavitark Ram Shriram founded Sherpalo, a venture capital firm for technology startups in 2000. He joined the league of Indian American philanthropists by donating a whopping $61 million to Stanford University.

Raj Sardana, Net Worth $2bn

Born in Delhi to a family displaced by the 1947 Partition, Innova Solutions CEO Raj Sardana from Atlanta is a new face on Forbes’ 2025 list of billionaire immigrants in the US. His journey from just $100 in 1981 to his current net worth $2bn is phenomenal. After he moved to the US, he worked in a college cafeteria while studying MS Georgia Tech. Later, he opened a small print shop in Georgia, which became the foundation of Innova Solutions. Today, the company has over 50,000 employees in multiple countries. From humble beginnings to building a billion-dollar company, Raj Sardana’s pursuit of American Dream is the envy of many.

David Paul, Net Worth $1.5bn

With a net worth estimated at $1.5 billion, David C. Paul, Executive Chairman of Globus Medical, one of the top spine and orthopedic device makers in the US, is featured on the Forbes 2025 list of richest immigrants in the United States. Born in India and educated in Chennai, he moved to the US to pursue a master’s degree at Temple University in Philadelphia. He began his career in biomedical research and later started Globus Medical in 2003. Currently living in Audubon, Pennsylvania, David is a prolific innovator with dozens of patents in surgical technology. Globus Medical operates a major subsidiary in Chennai, showcasing Indian-American innovation in global healthcare.

Nikesh Arora, Net Worth $1.4bn

California-based Nikesh Arora, with a a net worth of $1.4 billion, is one of the richest Indian American CEOs on Forbes’ 2025 list of immigrant billionaires. Originally from north India, Nikesh was born into an army family and studied engineering at IIT-BHU before heading to the US for MBA at Northeastern University and master’s in finance from Boston College. He spent nearly a decade in top roles at Google, then went on to become the President of SoftBank. Since he joined Palo Alto Networks in 2018, he has transformed the company into a cybersecurity giant. In 2023, he hit the headlines as the highest paid Indian-origin CEO in the US, earning over $150 million in a single year.

Sundar Pichai and Satya Nadella

Sundar Pichai and Satya Nadella, both sporting net worth of around $1.1 billion, are among the Forbes ‘America’s Richest Immigrants 2025’ list. They’re also at the helm of two of the biggest tech giants in the world, Google and Microsoft. Sundar, based in Los Altos Hills, is a graduate of IIT Kharagpur, Stanford University, and Wharton, and has been serving as the CEO of Alphabet and Google since 2015. Satya, originally from Hyderabad and now living in Washington, holds degrees in computer science engineering and business from institutions in both India and the US. He became the CEO of Microsoft in 2014 and now also serves as the chairman of the board.

Travel Beats is an Indian American community portal owned by Indian Eagle, a trusted travel booking partner of Indians in USA. Subscribe to our free newsletter and stay tuned to latest news & stories about Indian Americans, Indian events in USA, US visa & immigration news and US to India travel updates.

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This AI generated picture (not KrishnaKumar’s) is for illustration purpose only

KrishnaKumar Podagatlapalli, an Indian-origin US citizen from Virginia, shared his US re-entry experience at Washington Dulles Airport, with Sourav Agarwal, Senior Editor at Indian Eagle, a leading air-ticketing partner of Indians in America. After a trip to his native place in Andhra Pradesh, he returned on Qatar Airways flights from New Delhi to Washington DC, IAD Airport. His re-entry was neither smooth nor complicated. Rather, it is insightful for many immigrants who would fly back to USA after summer travel.

At Washington Dulles IAD Airport, CBP officers asked him about his trip duration and the places he visited during the trip. They went on to ask whether his cabin bag had food packets, pickles, and/or jewelry. KrishnaKumar told them that he brought two small packets of Indian sweets and a small piece of jewelry in the handbag, no pickles.

“What is the value of jewelry?” the CBP officer wanted to know immediately. “It’s USD 3000,” said Krishna Kumar. “Are you sure? It’s 3K worth? Is it plain jewelry or diamonds?” said the CBP officer with raised eyebrows, trying to ascertain the jewelry value. Krishna Kumar courteously replied he was absolutely sure about the jewelry piece having no diamonds and the worth being not more than $3K. He was further asked whether he purchased the jewelry in transit (during the layover in Doha).

The CBP officer’s interrogation continued, as KrishnaKumar was referred to a secondary check. He was taken to a room where he was told to open the carry-on bag and show the jewelry along with the receipt. On seeing the receipt of about USD 3300, the CBP officer said, “There is a tax for any foreign purchases above US$ 800.” It took him aback, as he was under the impression that any foreign import, cash or jewelry, under $10K is tax free in the US. He ended up paying 5.5% tax on $2500 ($3300-$800).

This is, indeed, an eye opener for many Indians who bring valuables to USA from India and make duty-free purchases at airports in transit during return trips. For anything above US$ 800, you need to submit a declaration to the CBP and pay customs duty at US airports. However, no customs duty for gold coin imports into USA if the value is under $10K.

There is a way to avoid paying the US’ customs duty on gold jewelry and other valuables if you travel in a group. $800 is the tax-free limit to the worth of imports per individual entering the US. If you are four, including your spouse and two children, flying back to the US with gold jewelry worth $3500, you would have to pay taxes only on $300 ($3500 – $800 x 4). Since KrishnaKumar was alone, he had to pay taxes on $2500.

Despite being a US citizen, his US re-entry experience at Dulles IAD Airport went beyond what is considered normal. He also declared that he purchased a couple of perfume bottles and a chocolate box as part of duty-free shopping in transit. Thereafter, the CBP officer asked him, “Are you sure? You didn’t bring any meat pickles.” He denied outright reiterating that he did not bring any such food items except two packets of sweets from India and one chocolate box from Doha.

“What about clothes and gift articles?” was the CBP officer’s next question to him. KrishnaKumar said, “No gift articles and new clothes. I just brought back the clothes that I carried during my onward journey.” The CBP officer clarified his question, “I am asking about designer clothes or bags.”

“These days CBP officers are more vigilant about counterfeit brand imports into the United States. International arrivals at US airports, especially from China, India, Philippines and a few other Asian countries, are facing the law enforcement against counterfeit luxury items if found in their bags. In FY 22 alone, the CBP seized more than 25 million fake goods of various brands, mostly from non-immigrants. Check out the US policy for international travelers carrying items with fake brand tags into USA,” said Sourav Agarwal.

You may also like

• What is the newly introduced US Visa Integrity Fee?
• Ethiopian Airlines’ free stopover for Indians and US citizens

Disclaimer: KrishnaKumar Podagatlapalli shared his US re-entry experience through Travel Beats, the Indian Diaspora and Travel News portal, with the message that people returning from abroad should not act smart with CBP officers. They must declare to CBP their imports from abroad and politely give honest answers during the entry inspection. We used an AI-generated picture to represent KrishnaKumar Podagatlapalli for the sake of his digital privacy.

The post “My US Re-entry Experience is Insightful for You,” Shares Indian American KrishnaKumar Podagatlapalli appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

It seems that non-immigrants are at the center of revenue streams to the US Treasury. After having signed an executive order to increase visitor fees to America’s national parks for non-US residents, President Trump is up with the first-of-its-kind surcharge for non-immigrant visa applicants under the One Big Beautiful Bill. Named the Visa Integrity Fee, $250 will be levied on all US visa applicants from India and other countries, starting in 2026. Read on to know whether it is fixed, waivable, and refundable. 

What is new US Visa Integrity Fee?

Integral to President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill, the $250 Visa Integrity Fee will be collected from foreign nationals including Indians applying for B1/B2 visa, US student visas, US work visas (H-1B, L-1), and others. Dependent visa applicants (like H4) may not be exempted. The Department of Homeland Security has made the Visa Integrity Fee mandatory, in addition to the standard visa application fees.

This is the first time the US government has introduced this kind of fee, and it’s part of President Trump’s sweeping immigration reform known as the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill.‘ With this, the overall cost of visiting or studying or working in the US will go higher, especially for US-based Indians’ visiting parents and students from India. With this new fee, the US treasury would have an inflow of funds from Indian professionals who make up a large share of the US non-immigrant population.

The new Visa Integrity Fee is non-waivable, which means non-immigrant US visa applicants will have to pay it, regardless of their visa purpose or financial situation. However, the $250 Visa Integrity Fee is refundable, and the refund claim is subject to certain conditions, including but not limited to your strict compliance with the US visa rules, like no visa overstay.

How to get a refund on $250 Visa Integrity Fee collected by DHS

DHS reiterates that the fee cannot be waived or reduced for any reason, but it may be refundable in limited cases.

You might get the Visa Integrity Fee back if you strictly comply with the rules and regulations applicable to your US visa status and category. This means you refrain from taking up a job or any sort of employment without authorization.

DHS may refund the additional $250 fee if B1/B2 visa holders don’t overstay in the US. Those who exit the US within 5 days prior to their form I-94 expiration date without seeking visa extension or change of status might be eligible for a refund.

If you receive a lawful extension or your visa status is adjusted to permanent residency before the Form I-94 expiry date, you can seek a refund of the Visa Integrity Fee from the Department of Homeland Security.

Purpose of the US Visa Integrity Fee for non-immigrants

Under the One Big Beautiful Bill, the Visa Integrity Fee is introduced aiming to make all US visa holders more accountable and law compliant. The additional $250 fee is intended to prevent non-immigrants from making violations like unauthorized work and overstaying in the US. It is a kind of penalization for any discrepancy found between what B1/B2 visa holders do in the US and what they stated as their purpose of visit in the US tourist visa interview as well as the DS-160 Form.

Subscribe to monthly newsletters of Travel Beats, your favorite Indian Diaspora portal for relevant stories for NRIs in America, US immigration updates, US-India travel news, and a lot more. Travel Beats is a subsidiary of Indian Eagle, the most trusted travel-booking partner of Indians and Americans in the US, offering phone-only budget flight deals to India. 

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The fun of winter holiday travel between the US and India is an international stopover that may turn into a one-day vacation or a half-day city sightseeing tour for free or less. One such relaxing experience for transit passengers is Ethiopian Airlines stopover program in Addis Ababa. Interestingly, the program is free (sans Ethiopian tour packages) for both Indians and US citizens given one condition – a layover of 8 to 24 hours in the itinerary.

How to book Ethiopian Airlines Flights with Free Stopover       

Indian Eagle, the most trusted air-ticketing partner of Indians and Americans, makes it a lot easier to book Ethiopian Airlines flights between USA and India with a significant layover that makes you eligible for a free stopover in Addis Ababa. Call us at +1800-615-3969 for phone-only budget flight deals from our partner – Ethiopian Airlines, and our experts will help you with suitable itineraries. If you plan to explore the history and culture of Addis Ababa during a layover of 15 to 24 hours, our experts will help you book a multi-city itinerary at the best price.

PC: Ethiopianholidays.com

Ethiopian Airlines Free Stopover Program Overview

The stopover program in Addis Ababa for international passengers of Ethiopian Airlines flights is more or less similar to the Middle East airlines’ stopovers. Ethiopian Airlines’ US-India itineraries with a layover of 8 hours or more, and multicity flights with a layover of 8-24 hours are eligible for the Addis Ababa stopover with free hotel stay. Interestingly, you don’t need to book the stopover program separately or along with your travel between USA and India via Addis Ababa.

Ethiopian Airlines stopover program does not include any sightseeing tours in and around the capital city. Depending on the duration of your layover at ADD Bole International Airport, you can choose from the paid sightseeing and activity packages from Ethiopian Holidays, the tourism wing of the airline. The packages are categorized as historical tours, excursion tours, cultural tours, festival tours, leisure tours, and Addis Ababa City tours.

You can visit the website of Ethiopian Holidays or call Indian Eagle customer service for booking a city sightseeing or activity package that best caters to your interest – “exploring the rich history, immersing in the vibrant cultures, enjoying breathtaking treks, or unwinding in serene retreats.” The best thing is that you may get Ethiopian Airlines’ free stopover hotel voucher irrespective of whether you buy a sightseeing tour or activity package.

Ethiopian Airlines Stopover Program Benefits

Complimentary one-night hotel stay, free meal vouchers, and a free transit visa are included in flight tickets of Ethiopian Airlines for the itineraries eligible for a stopover in Addis Ababa. The hotel category and the number of meal vouchers depend on your travel class. Ethiopian Airlines’ premium guests with first or business class flight tickets, receive free accommodation at Ethiopian Skylight Hotel, a luxurious 5-star property within short walking distance from Terminal 2 of Addis Ababa International Airport.

Economy travelers receive free stopover hotel vouchers for accommodation outside the airport. Free shuttle to and from the airport is also provided to them. This makes it comfortable and stress-free to spend a layover, 8 to 24 hours, outside the airport.

How to Get Ethiopian Airlines’ Free Hotel, Meal Vouchers

Ethiopian Airlines’ airport check-in counters in India and the US issue free stopover hotel and meal vouchers to eligible passengers. You can simply walk to the airline counter at the departure airport in USA or India with your international flight tickets or boarding pass and ask for the vouchers of Ethiopian Airlines stopover program in Addis Ababa. If not available at the departure airport, you can easily collect them from the Transit Desk before immigration at Addis Ababa Bole Airport.

Once verified, you will receive a printed hotel voucher, a transit visa, meal vouchers, and shuttle details to your assigned hotel. Keep the vouchers safe as they are necessary to access Ethiopian Airlines’ free stopover services.

Visa Requirement for Ethiopian Airlines Stopover in Addis Ababa

Since free transit visa to Addis Ababa is part of Ethiopian Airlines’ stopover program, you don’t need to worry about the visa requirement. Though both Indians and US nationals are eligible for visa on arrival or Ethiopia’s e-Visa (paid), they may not need a separate visa for the stopover. The free transit visa on arrival at Addis Ababa International Airport is valid for up to 24 hours from the time of issuance. It allows you to get through immigration, exit the terminal, and check in at the stopover hotel.

The post Traveling to India or USA with Ethiopian Airlines? Explore Stopover in Addis Ababa with Free Hotel, Meals, Visa appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

To be inaugurated in August or September 2025, Navi Mumbai International Airport is a most ambitious aviation project for Rs 16,700 crore (around $2 billion). Flying through this airport would a unique experience unlike traveling through New Delhi or Mumbai CSMI Airport. Everything about the Navi Mumbai Airport project, from lotus-like design to water terminal to traffic-handling capacity is a wonder.

PC: Adani Group

Navi Mumbai Airport – Local Sightseeing for Connecting Passengers

Connecting passengers with significant layovers at Navi Mumbai Airport would get to visit Lonavala, a most scenic hill station among the weekend getaways between Mumbai and Pune. NMIAL is planning to offer short sightseeing trips to Lonavala and other nearby tourist sites for travelers during long wait hours before connecting flights. If you have 6 hours or more to the next flight or international boarding, you can go for Lonavala sightseeing and come back to the airport.

The first Indian airport to offer local sightseeing tours, Navi Mumbai Airport would join the ranks of Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, Egypt, Singapore Changi, and Istanbul airports with stopover programs and sightseeing tours. Lonavala sightseeing experiences are being anticipated to be guided tours like Changi Airport’s free Singapore tours for transit travelers. “We are also looking at many options from among the must-visit places in Mumbai which could be explored with the help of Atal Setu,” said an official from NMIAL.

Since this initiative is in the works, we are waiting for more information, like sightseeing trips to Lonavala and other places from D B Patil Airport in Navi Mumbai would be complimentary or payable, whether this would be extended to inbound international arrivals,” said the chief travel economist of IndianEagle.com.

Navi Mumbai Airport to have Water Taxis

Water taxi rides between South Mumbai and DB Patil Airport in Navi Mumbai would be an altogether different experience for travelers, starting in 2026. Yes, among the existing and new airports in India, NMIA is the first to get water transportation on 8 routes to major points along the coast of Mumbai, like Colaba. A road trip to the airport from the mainland via the Mumbai Trans Harbor Link would take more than 60 minutes, whereas a water taxi ride would cut it to a mere 30 minutes. Part of the multimodal connectivity among Navi Mumbai Airport’s facilities, electric water taxis would make commuting to the airport smooth, scenic, and of course, Instagram worthy.

NMIA Food Hall: A Taste of Mumbai Inside the Terminal

Among Navi Mumbai Airport’s facilities, a curated Food Hall is all set to redefine airport dining for travelers. Designed by top chefs, this Food Hall brings together the flavors of Mumbai, from street-style vada pav to pav bhaji and fulfilling meals that reflect the City of Dreams’ culinary depth. It would be very unlike a typical food court at other airports where brand franchisees and quick-service restaurants charge a premium.

At NMIA Food Hall, you would get vegan, Jain, and diabetic-friendly food options, alongside a wide selection of vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes. And the best part? Prices would be in line with that of normal city restaurants, not the highly inflated rates at most airports. Navi Mumbai Airport will also have a food court outside the terminal building for non-passengers who come to see off or receive travelers.

Navi Mumbai Airport’s Experiential Zones Facility

After clearing security at Navi Mumbai DB Patil Airport, passengers would step into a special experiential zone designed to ease pre-flight stress. This in-terminal area will feature interactive displays, digital projections, and cultural artifacts showcasing the iconic landmarks of Mumbai, Maharashtra, and India at large. The experiential zone will have a calm ambience and a culturally rich space where passengers can relax and explore a bit of the local culture before boarding. Plus, a gaming area is coming up at the airport for families and children.

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While President Trump is wooing foreign millionaires with his ‘Gold Card’ visa, Indian American Balaji Srinivasan is busy building a decentralized, digital-first nation on an island for tech startup founders outside the United States. Balaji, among Silicon Valley’s most unconventional investors, has bought an island near Singapore and is planning to convert the island into a nation for startup founders, tech entrepreneurs, thinkers and digital community builders.

Srinivasan has long believed that the next Silicon Valley might not be in the US. With the tech world changing fast, he felt it was time to build something new outside the old systems. That is what led him to launch the Network School, a hands-on for startup founders and fitness enthusiasts. It is the first real-world test of his bigger idea of building self-governed communities, also known as Network State.

PC: Balaji Srinivasan

Balaji Srinivasan’s Vision for a New Tech-First Country

In 2022, he published a book titled The Network State: How to Start a New Country. It introduced a bold idea: why wait for governments to change when you can build your own? Using the Internet, like-minded people can form online communities, raise funds, purchase land, and start living by shared values. In 2024, Balaji and his team acquired a private island near Singapore and launched the first live experiment of the Network School, which he sees as a possible foundation for Network State, a tech-first nation for startup founders.

Who is Indian American Balaji Srinivasan?

Balaji Srinivasan is an Indian-origin American entrepreneur, investor, and futurist. He was born in Long Island, New York, in 1980, to physician parents who immigrated from Tamil Nadu, India. He often credits his disciplined upbringing and early love for technology to his family. While other kids were reading comics, Balaji was exploring math with his grandfather and learning computers.

He holds four degrees from Stanford University, including a PhD in Electrical Engineering and a Master’s in Chemical Engineering. He also taught at Stanford, sharing his knowledge of statistics and bioinformatics. His first success came with Counsyl, a genetic testing company he co-founded in 2007. The firm helped couples screen for hereditary conditions before having children and was later sold in 2018 for $375 million.

Then came 21.co, a bitcoin-related startup that pivoted into Earn.com, a platform where users could get paid in crypto to answer emails. That company was acquired by Coinbase, where Balaji became the first Chief Technology Officer. He also joined Andreessen Horowitz, one of Silicon Valley’s top venture capital firms, as a General Partner, where he backed early-stage crypto and biotech startups.

Over the years, Balaji has invested in more than 200 companies, including Ethereum, OpenSea, and Alchemy, cementing his place in the tech elite. But the most interesting chapter in Balaji’s story is just beginning.

What is Balaji Srinivasan’s Network School or Network State?

The Network School isn’t just a place to learn. It’s a complete environment where founders live together, work out daily, code, build companies, and debate the future of tech and governance. The curriculum covers everything from AI and crypto to community building and digital law. Participants are selected not just for their skills but for their values. Belief in Bitcoin, trust in AI as a force for good, and a shared vision of freedom and innovation, these are some of the foundational ideas behind the school.

For Balaji, the Network School is a working prototype for what he calls a “Network State.” Just as the United States was once a radical new idea shaped by liberty and self-rule, the Network State is a digital-first evolution of that concept, born from the internet rather than geography. Balaji is already thinking beyond this island, with similar plans of building a next-generation society in Dubai, Tokyo, the Mediterranean, and possibly even India.

Right now, a three-month program is underway at the Network School. Up next is a one-year fellowship that’s currently in the works. Fellows will be selected through a rigorous process and will receive $100k in funding to build a new or existing venture after successfully completing the program. All participants are expected to relocate to the island, where they will live, build, and grow together with other founders.

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Come 2026, India will welcome one more airline with one-stop flights between USA and Mumbai. While the anticipation for Delta Airlines’ comeback to India with nonstop flights to Delhi is building up, Scandinavian Airlines officially announced its return to India after 17 long years. Initially, SAS – the national airline of Denmark, Sweden and Norway – will cater to Mumbai from and via Copenhagen, thereby connecting Mumbai to its US gateways. Mumbai-bound travelers from the US will get a new route through Europe.

PC: Indian Eagle

SAS Airlines to India: Flight Schedule and Frequency

Scandinavian Airlines flights to Mumbai will take off on 2 June 2026, with a frequency of five times a week. SAS’s Copenhagen to Mumbai flight SK969 schedule includes Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Arrival in Mumbai is scheduled past midnight (01:30 AM IST) the following day. Mumbai-Copenhagen flights SK970 are scheduled on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, with departure at 6 AM IST and arrival in Copenhagen at 11:45 local time.

The upcoming flights between Copenhagen and Mumbai are carefully timed to provide smooth connection on SAS flights to and from the United States. New York, Newark, Boston, Washington DC, Atlanta, Chicago, Seattle, Los Angeles, San Francsico and Miami (seasonal) are Scandinavian Airlines destinations in the US. Scandinavian Airlines will seamlessly connect travelers from the US to Mumbai, India via its principal hub, Copenhagen.

If Mumbai is your final destination, you may consider SAS Airlines for your summer travel to India from those US cities in 2026 and compare SAS fares with Indian Eagle deals from major airlines.

Scandinavian Airlines’ Airbus A330-300 Features

Reportedly, Airbus A330-300 with premium economy seats will be deployed for Scandinavian Airline flights to India. A330‑300 is a modern, fuel-efficient, wide-body aircraft that seats approximately 266 passengers across three cabins, making it well-suited for long-haul routes like Mumbai-Copenhagen-US. The aircraft is known for its reliability, comfort, and long-range capability. Its Economy travel cabin has 174 seats in a 2‑4‑2 layout, each offering around 31 to 32 inches of pitch along with personal in-flight entertainment.

One step up is SAS Plus, the airline’s premium economy cabin, which includes 56 seats in a 2‑3‑2 configuration with 38 inches of pitch and a 12-to-13-inch screen featuring an upgraded entertainment system. At the front, business class offers 32 lie-flat seats in a 1‑2‑1 arrangement, each 23 to 24 inches wide with a pitch of 77 to 78 inches, along with Zodiac RAVE in-flight entertainment.

Do Indians need transit visa at Copenhagen Airport for connecting flights?

If a SAS Airline flight itinerary, USA to India, does not require you to exit the international transit area during a layover at Copenhagen Airport, you don’t need a transit visa. As long as you stay within the international transit zone and your bags are checked all the way to India or USA, you are good to go. However, landside transit involving immigration at Copenhagen Airport requires a transit visa or short-stay Schengen Visa for Indians.

It would be better to check your flight PNR and confirm with Scandinavian Airlines SAS the latest visa rules for transit at Copenhagen Airport. First, let the airline open bookings for summer 2026. Meanwhile, you can check out IndianEagle.com for cheap flight tickets to India or call us at +1800-615-3969 for exclusive phone-only deals from our airline partners.

The post With Its Return to India in 2026, Scandinavian Airlines will Connect USA and Mumbai; All You Need to Know appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

When the Middle East conflict was escalating in and after mid-June, multi-country airspace closure caused international departure delays and connecting flight cancellations. Thousands of transit passengers, including Indians from the US and other countries, got stuck at Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Doha airports for unusually long hours. The situation became worse especially on 23 June. Etihad Airways could provide accommodation at its partner hotels outside the terminal only to the passengers having a transit visa.

Among the passengers of Etihad Airways flights from Chicago to Mumbai, New York to Kochi, and Boston to Chennai, were an Indian family with two kids. Their onward flight to Abu Dhabi was actually on 18 June, but it was rescheduled on 20 June, and the layover at Zayed International Airport extended to 8 hours from the actual 3 hours.

At Chicago ORD Airport, they were informed that they would get complimentary accommodation during the long layover. But at Abu Dhabi Airport, they learned that only those having a UAE tourist visa or transit visa could exit the terminal and access the hotel. While the UAE’s entry visa on arrival can be obtained in real time for a fee of AED 100 (approx. $27) per person, an Abu Dhabi transit visa must be arranged in advance.

As they were a group of four travelers, the visa on arrival would additionally incur them a little more than $100 in total. The situation was so overwhelming that they chose to keep away from serpentine lines for the visa on arrival at Abu Dhabi Airport. They received vouchers for an economy lounge which was no way better than a waiting area. They just walked away and got into a business class lounge at their own expense.

This brings into light the importance of having a transit visa even for Abu Dhabi or Dubai in the Middle East. Precisely, having a transit visa is like “better safe than sorry”.

UAE Visa on Arrival vs Abu Dhabi Transit Visa for Indian Nationals

When a scheduled layover becomes longer than usual, Etihad Airways like other airlines provides accommodation at Zayed International Airport. However, when accommodation options get exhausted within the airport, transit passengers get access to the airline’s hotel partners outside the airport. In such unexpected events as the one explained above, only the UAE visa on arrival at Abu Dhabi Airport works for Indian nationals.

The entry visa on arrival in UAE for Indians costs AED 100 and comes with 14-day validity. But there is a catch. Only Indians holding a valid visa or residence permit of USA, Canada, the UK, Australia, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, and New Zealand are eligible for it. If you travel through Abu Dhabi or Dubai with your expired US visa or Green Card, you are not eligible for the visa on arrival.

Indians are eligible for the Abu Dhabi Transit Visa for 48 hours or 96 hours only if they go for Abu Dhabi stopover programs while flying with Etihad. Or, your US-India flight itinerary must have a layover of at least 8 hours in Abu Dhabi for a 48-hour transit visa. If the Abu Dhabi airport layover in your itinerary is shorter than 8 hours, you are not eligible for a transit visa in the UAE.

Many Indians still confuse between the transit visa and the visa on arrival for Abu Dhabi. While transit visa must be applied for in advance, the visa on arrival is instantly available at Zayed International Airport for eligible Indians. Both visas give entry to the UAE, but their eligibility criteria are different.

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PC: Youngscientistlab.com

List of Indian-origin winners of America’s 3M Young Scientist Challenge:

• Deepika Kurup, New Hampshire in 2012
• Sahil Doshi, Pennsylvania in 2014
• Maansa Mendu, Ohio in 2016
• Gitanjali Rao, Colorado in 2017
• Rishab Jain, Oregon in 2018
• Anika Chebrolu, Texas in 2020
• Sirish Subash, Georgia in 2024

3M Young Scientist Challenge 2025: Eight Indian American Finalists

Divyam Desai, Texas

Divyam Desai, a 7th grader from Frisco, TX, is one of the 10 finalists of the 3M Young Scientist Challenge 2025 for his foundation tilt prevention system. His innovative irrigation system monitors soil moisture and waters the soil, only as needed, around building foundations in order to prevent damages that expansion soils cause to the foundation of brick-and-mortar structures in Texas. It would save his parents and other homeowners hefty repair costs. At the same time, his smart invention would help conserve water in clay-rich regions.

Divyam wants to become a mathematician, as algebra and statistics fascinate him. This 13-year-old believes that 3D printers are the best invention of the last 100 years.

Reanna Bhuyan Patel, New Jersey

13-year-old Reanna from Princeton, New Jersey has built a next-gen device based on thermoelectric principles. Her device captures energy from surrounding heat and converts it into electricity. Thus, her low-cost electricity generation tool has the potential to provide clean energy to communities with zero to little access to reliable power. No wonder why this project earned her a spot among the finalists for America’s Top Young Scientist title in 2025.

She believes, “Intelligence is not defined by what you know, but by the power of what you do with it.” In 2024, Reanna Bhuyan Patel won the New Jersey State Merit Award from 3M for developing a zero-energy air conditioning system. She aspires to become an entrepreneur and an engineer.

Anirudh Rao, Colorado

12-year-old Anirudh Rao is the youngest of all finalists for Discovery 3M Young Scientist Challenge 2025. He built a moisture-powered nano-generator that can provide clean, affordable electricity for health and environmental sensors in areas with limited access to power. His innovation focuses on making renewable energy solutions more practical and accessible, especially in off-grid locations.

Being a prolific inventor, Anirudh competed for America’s Top Young Scientist title in the past three years, each time with a new solution. However, he made it as a finalist this year. He also developed a tornado detection system using a network of drones designed to detect infrasound and sense approaching tornadoes.

Amaira Srivastava, Arizona

Amaira Srivastava’s commitment to curbing food waste, plastic pollution, and climate change brought her to the Discovery 3M Young Scientist Challenge finals 2025. Aiming to promote sustainability, she has created biodegradable cups made with fruit peels not only to reduce plastic waste, but also to deliver natural nutrients through flavonoid-rich water. She believes that the 3M Young Scientist Challenge platform would help make her product a household item in the US and beyond.

Amaira dreams of becoming a global scientist, innovator, and purpose-driven entrepreneur who tackles challenges like climate change, pollution, and hunger.

Sheyna Patel, Florida

Sheyna Patel, an 8th grader from Longwood, has been named a finalist for the 3M Young Scientist Challenge 2025 for her innovative solution to a major environmental problem. She has developed a non-toxic hydrogel that can capture and break down microplastics in water with over 93% efficiency, offering a promising way to protect aquatic ecosystems. Her project showcases both scientific skill and deep concern for the environment.

This 14-year-old is 14-year-old and passionate about STEM research and is driven by a strong desire to solve real-world problems. Sheyna Patel’s favorite invention of the past 100 years is the smartphone, as it helps her explore and understand the possibilities of the world.

Shrey Arora, Tennessee

Among the finalists for America’s Top Young Scientist title 2025, Shrey Arora from Tennessee presents a solution that both homemakers and restaurant owners would love. A resident of Collierville in the Memphis metropolitan area, Shrey has developed FreshMate, a smart fridge device that tracks expiration dates of refrigerated food items, and thus, helps to reduce food waste in everyday life.

Passionate about solving real-world problems, Shrey dreams of working at NASA. He was named the 2024 Tennessee State Merit Winner in the 3M Young Scientist Challenge. He is mentored by Indian-origin Lalitha Ganapatibhotla, an advanced product development specialist in 3M.

Aniket Sarkar, Florida

Aniket Sarkar’s low-cost atmospheric solution for farmers in the arid regions of America will compete for the first prize at Discovery 3M Young Scientist Challenge this year. a 7^th grader from Sarasota, Aniket developed an easy-to-use atmospheric moisture capturing system that absorbs water from air to support farming in the arid regions of hinterlands.

Aniket hopes to become an environmental engineer aiming to solve the world’s most pressing problems. Despite being 13-year-old, he has already gained hands-on experience in rocketry and robotics, which has fueled his passion for innovation.

Isha Marla, Oregon

Isha is famed in her school as the “young doctor in the making.” She is 14-year-old and is one of the top 10 finalists of the America’s 2025 Young Scientist Challenge. Isha created AlginaFAB, a fabric made from seaweed and other natural ingredients. Her eco-friendly textile mimics the strength and flexibility of traditional fabrics while being fully biodegradable.

She is an 8th grader from Portland with a strong passion for science, innovation, and music. Isha has been studying piano and percussion for the past 8 years, and her favorite invention of the past 100 years is the drum set. She hopes to become a cardiovascular surgeon, aiming to perform life-saving surgeries and drive innovation in healthcare.

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PC: Emirates

Emirates Airline News: New Economy Seat Features

The new seat design for economy travel cabins on Emirates flights to India, USA, China, and other countries will leverage vertical space to enhance comfort. Seat height – neither seat width nor seat pitch – is the focus of unusual seating improvement for the Dubai-based airline this time. The design has already been prototyped for seat manufacturers and aviation regulators.

Vertical enhancement of economy class seats is a signature innovation, like Emirates’ virtual windows in the first class cabins of B777-300ER planes. The new seats will be taller by 4 to 5 inches to improve the way the seat height supports our body posture and contour, according to Tim Clark, one of the most revered leaders in aviation, who is credited with driving the growth of Emirates Airlines from a two-plane startup in 1985 to one of the best international airlines in the world.

The more legroom, the more premium fare. In Economy Class, the wider the seats, the higher the ticket prices. By utilizing the vertical cabin space, Emirates Airlines aims to elevate your seating comfort in Economy without charging a premium. Usually, Emirates’ economy flight seats are wider and more spacious than Air India’s and other airlines’. Currently, seat height is the only area wherein the airline has some room for improvement without reducing cabin density.

Emirates’ new economy seats height has challenges

“The more height a seat has, the more space it needs to recline back. The reclining of one’s seat causing discomfort to the other behind is often the reason for inflight scuffles among economy class passengers. Given the cases of passengers getting into an argument over unfair reclining of seats, Emirates’ tall seat design for Economy travel cabins seems to be a move against basic air travel etiquette,” said Sourav Agarwal, Senior Editor of Travel Beats.

A more serious concern than the above is obstructed viewing of passengers for the cabin crew. Emirates’ new economy seats height (to be increased by 4 to 5 inches) could block the line of sight, one of the inflight safety requirements for the cabin crew. However, President Tim Clark shrugged off this concern by saying that cameras are installed inside Economy Class cabins of modern aircraft like A380s in the fleet of Emirates Airlines. Passengers activity and safety can be monitored through inflight cameras.

On one hand, Sir Tim Clark is sanguine about the pragmatism of increasing the height of seats for international economy travelers. On the other hand, he says, “It’s not an easy process” to get approval from aviation regulators. He is trying to connect dots between inflight seating innovation and aviation safety compliance.

Better seat height or better seat width – what is your preference for comfort on economy flights between USA and India?

Subscribe to Travel Beats, a leading aviation news portal for US-India airline news, travel tips, travel FAQs, visa guides, checked baggage allowance, and a lot more. Also, check out Indian Eagle flight tickets for USA to India budget travel and beyond with Emirates, Etihad, Qatar Airways, Lufthansa, Air India, United, British Airways, Cathay Pacific…You can call +1800-615-3969 for unpublished phone-only deals.

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