-Chandigarh : The British Deputy High Commission, Chandigarh, recently conducted an interactive session at the School of Communication Studies, Panjab University. The team was led by the UK’s Deputy Head of Mission (DHM) in Chandigarh, Mr. Amandeep Grewal, and Mr. Rajinder S. Nagarkoti, Political, Press & Projects Adviser and Chevening Officer for the Chandigarh region.
During the session, the delegation engaged with students and faculty on key areas of UK–India collaboration. Discussions focused on the UK’s Chevening Scholarships programme, the progress of the UK–India Free Trade Agreement (FTA), and the UK’s ‘Visa Fraud Ton Bacho’ awareness campaign.
Faculty members, including Dr Bhavneet Bhatti, Chairperson of the department, and Professor Archana R. Singh, were present and actively participated in the dialogue. The visit also featured a special radio interview with Mr. Grewal and Mr. Nagarkoti hosted by Panjab University.
Speaking about Chevening, Mr. Grewal said: “Chevening is an international scholarships programme funded by the UK Government’s Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office. It offers fully funded scholarships for a one-year master’s degree at over 150 UK universities. There is no upper age limit, and scholars are welcomed from more than 160 countries. The current application window is open until 7 October.”
On the UK–India FTA, Mr. Grewal described it as “India’s best-ever deal and the UK’s most economically significant bilateral trade agreement since leaving the EU,” noting that it will benefit key sectors on both sides. Highlighting the ‘Visa Fraud Ton Bacho’ Campaign, Mr. Nagarkoti said: “This campaign, launched in February this year, has reached rural areas of Punjab, engaging village elders and women to spread awareness against visa fraud. We also launched a WhatsApp chatbot in English and Punjabi (+91-7065251380) to provide authentic guidance. Our mission is clear – to protect innocent people from visa fraud, raise awareness, and promote safe, legal routes to the UK.”
