A department of science and technology-sponsored study on the brain drain from the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), conducted by the University Grants Commission (UGC), found that a lack of a national perspective and a curriculum restricted from exposing students to the needs of the Indian industry are mainly responsible for IIT students emigrating abroad.

Says UGC vice-chairperson N C Mathur, "The students tend to feel alienated from the mainstream of Indian life and work." The study has, therefore, recommended wider contact with the industry during the training period and strengthening components of the undergraduate programme -- summer training, industrial tours, inviting industry personnel to give lectures and developing a rewards and incentive system -- which lead to student awareness.

The study recognises that although the IITs account for less than 2 per cent of engineering graduates in the country, they can, however, make a major impact on the technical performance of industry because of their excellent training.