India is maintaining its regulatory requirements for American companies amid growing tensions with the United States. New Delhi has indicated that firms such as Elon Musk’s Starlink must follow the same rules and security procedures as other service providers operating in India.

The issue comes as India-US relations face fresh challenges over technology restrictions, immigration policies and trade negotiations. Indian officials have stressed that American businesses will not receive exemptions from established compliance requirements.

Starlink must complete the applicable regulatory and security procedures, just like other satellite service providers, including Eutelsat OneWeb and Jio-SES. India’s Communications Ministry has also rejected allegations that Starlink is facing unfair or discriminatory treatment.

Meanwhile, concerns are growing over US restrictions affecting Indian technology companies and professionals. These include changes to the Permanent Labour Certification process for selected technology firms. India is also monitoring possible tighter rules for student and exchange visas, along with changes to the Optional Practical Training programme.

The tensions are affecting negotiations for the proposed India-US bilateral trade agreement (BTA). According to sources cited by BusinessLine, progress on an interim deal appears unlikely before the US midterm elections. India is expected to assess the political outcome before deciding its next steps.

Trade negotiations have faced several challenges, including US tariff measures and demands for greater access to India's agricultural market. Indian exporters also face uncertainty over possible additional tariffs linked to Russia sanctions and a separate US investigation into excess manufacturing capacity.

Despite these challenges, routine commercial relations between the two countries are expected to continue. However, the latest developments highlight the growing importance of regulatory compliance, market access and stable trade policies for businesses operating across both markets.