Putting an end to the anxiety among PHD aspirants, Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani has made it clear that the non-National Eligibility Test, NET research fellowship of University Grants Commission is not being discontinued. Her assertion came yesterday when she met an eight-member delegation including representatives from students union of Delhi University and Jawaharlal Nehru University at her residence in Delhi. <br/><br/>The minister's tweet came in response to a concern raised by CPI (M) MP in Rajya Sabha Ritabrata Banerjee who had also written to her expressing concern over the recent decision of the UGC to scrap the non-NET fellowship. Earlier, Human Resource Development Ministry in a release said, all existing and continuing fellowships, NET as well as Non-NET will be continued. It said, the Ministry is in the process of reviewing the current research framework, efforts, opportunities, quality and output.<br/><br/> It said, Government has appointed a Review Committee to go into the issues related to the research fellowships provided by the University Grants Commission, covering both National Eligibility Test, NET and Non-NET fellowships. The Review Committee will submit its report to the Ministry by year-end. <br/><br/>Hundreds of students from JNU, DU, Jamia Millia, Ambedkar University and other institutions have been protesting since last week at the UGC demanding the authorities to restore the fellowships. NET, a competitive examination is conducted twice a year by the UGC. The Non-NET Fellowship Scheme was introduced by the UGC in 2006. It is presently limited only to fifty institutions including Central Universities and those with Potential for Excellence.