As first reported in The Indian Express which is doing a series highlighting how foreign scholars are stranded — their visas delayed, many even asked to change their subjects — the government is planning a green channel for categories of research and institutions that can be approved without going through the harrowing process of clearance.

But there will still be a red channel that will basically be defined by the scholar’s nationality, the home institution, the participating institution in India and, significantly, the nature of research.

At today’s meeting, it was decided that the HRD ministry would, in consultation with the MEA, prepare a list of countries whose scholars would need clearance. A list of institutions a scholar is from is also likely to be drawn up. The Home Ministry, once again, will have the authority to provide inputs on research subjects and locations within the country where security clearance will be needed.

The committee will also work out the weightage to be assigned to each of these factors when it comes to deciding if a proposal falls in the green channel or red.

While proposals that qualify for the green channel will not have to wait for too long, cases falling under the red channel would be taken up at a meeting of the research coordination committee to be held each month. Officials said all cases would be disposed of within six weeks.

The issue of approvals for foreign research scholars has become a matter of concern over the past two years with cases of Fulbright scholars waiting for clearance for periods ranging from six to 21 months.

Among the proposals that were rejected were “Left politics in Maharashtra” and “Muslim women’s perceptions of their role”. In August 2006, when the scholars should already have been in India, 93 of the 100 Fulbright visa applications were pending. Eight of these applications are still pending.