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.