Science
Modi Government Plans Scheme To Woo Back Indian-Origin ‘Star Faculty’ Amid Trump’s Academic Crackdown: Report
PM Narendra Modi (X/@narendramodi)
The Modi government is drafting a new scheme to attract top Indian-origin scientists and researchers working abroad to return and join Indian institutions, The Indian Express reported.
The initiative has gained urgency amid the Trump administration’s tightening policies on higher education in the US, which critics say threaten university autonomy and academic freedom.
Meetings have reportedly been held between the Principal Scientific Adviser’s office and the Departments of Higher Education, Science and Technology (DST), and Biotechnology (DBT) to finalise the framework.
The plan aims to bring back “established” Indian-origin academics for defined research tenures in India, supported by a substantial “set-up grant” for labs and teams. The IITs are reportedly on board, with several directors participating in discussions.
Initially, 12-14 priority STEM fields will be targeted, especially those of strategic national importance.
“On the input side, the key now is to create mechanisms that make their experience seamless — housing, hospitality, day-to-day needs — all those small things that can otherwise become annoyances. This part needs a red-carpet approach, not just policy intent," Chintan Vaishnav, an academic at MIT Sloan School of Management and former Atal Innovation Mission director, was quoted as saying by IE.
The discussions come as several countries ramp up efforts to attract global talent in response to the US’s restrictive higher-ed measures.
The new scheme is reportedly being crafted to address the shortcomings of earlier efforts to bring back Indian-origin researchers, including bureaucratic delays, funding gaps, and inadequate institutional support.
Officials are also working out details on intellectual property rights, research independence, and tenure frameworks.
