US President Donald Trump has unveiled a new merit and points-based immigration policy that substantially hikes the quota for young and highly-skilled workers from 12 to 57 per cent, a move likely to benefit thousands of Indian professionals.

Trump said the current "broken" system of legal immigration has failed to retain and attract the brilliant talent from across the globe. The president said he was proposing a merit-based immigration system wherein permanent legal residency would be given based on points for age, knowledge, job opportunities and civic sense, besides passing English and civic tests.