New scheme to help get top Indian faculty overseas to return

PRINCIPAL SCIENTIFIC ADVISER MEETS KEY MINISTRIES

- RITIKA CHOPRA

THE GOVERNMENT IS working on anewscheme toattract Indian-ori-gin “star faculty” and researchers settled abroad to return and work in Indian institutions.

Such a plan, which has been in the works for several months, has gained momentum amid concerns over the Trump administration’s policies towards higher education in the United States, seen by critics as challenging university autonomy and academic freedom.

Discussions have been held between the Department of Higher Education in the Ministry of Education, the Department of Science and Technology (DST), and the Department of Biotechnology (DBT). The Principal Scientific Adviser’s office has also convened meetings with these departments to shape the contours of the initiative, it has been learnt.