The government is considering the possibility of allowing students pursuing research in foreign universities who have had to return to India during the pandemic to use laboratories in institutions funded by the Centre for the time being.

The education ministry discussed the subject at a meeting with the heads of the University Grants Commission (UGC) and the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) two weeks ago. A “Stay in India and Study in India Committee” set up to suggest measures to tide the education sector over its pandemic-induced problems is looking into the proposal on the research scholars.

“The committee is examining a proposal to allow research scholars enrolled in foreign universities in the US, Europe and elsewhere to do their work at the labs of centrally funded institutions in India,” AICTE chairman Anil Sahasrabudhe, a member of the committee, told The Telegraph.

Sahasrabudhe added: “They are unable to go back (to their universities abroad) due to the Covid-19 outbreak. They should be able to avail themselves of the facilities (here) till they go back.”

All educational institutions are closed at least till August 31.

Sudhir Kumar Sopory, former vice-chancellor of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), said the research scholars’ foreign supervisors have to first agree to such an arrangement.

“This is possible. But the supervisors of the students in the foreign universities should have trust in the research work their understudies would be doing in Indian institutions. It can be done through collaboration,” Sopory said.

He said several labs in India were of international standards and offered facilities similar to those in foreign institutions.

Sachin Maheswari, dean of Delhi University’s faculty of technology, and Rajani Ranjan Singh, faculty member at Dr Shakuntala Misra National Rehabilitation University in Lucknow, doubted whether such an arrangement would work.

“This will be feasible to a limited extent. It will depend on the scope to accommodate (the research scholars from foreign universities) and the willingness of the lab-in-charge to share equipment (with them),” Maheswari said.

Singh underlined that research scholars have to make a security deposit to ensure there is no mishandling of equipment, and that the materials required for research are expensive.

Singh said professors in India would also have to agree to guide these research scholars from foreign universities for a limited period.

Sahasrabudhe, the AICTE chairman, said the modalities were being worked out.

The Stay in India and Study in India Committee is to also suggest measures to address the needs of students aspiring to go abroad. Nearly six lakh Indian students are pursuing higher studies abroad.