Investigation shows India not fully utilising number of scholarships and fellowships abroad

Two experts on Soviet studies, both lecturers in major universities, were informed late last month by the University Grants Commission (UGC) that their applications for short-term post-doctoral research trips to the USSR had been rejected. No reasons were given, but both lecturers believe it was because they were not considered politically acceptable.

Another lecturer in a Delhi college was awarded a Commonwealth Fellowship for doctoral research in a Canadian university. A postal strike in Canada badly delayed mail both ways. Since his departure was imminent, the lecturer quit his job. At the very last moment he was informed by the Commonwealth Secretariat in Ottawa that it had not been successful in securing admission for him in the university of his choice. The truth, however, was different. The Commonwealth Secretariat had left other scholars high and dry before. The unofficially communicated reason: shortage of funds.