Government has appointed a five-member committee to review the research grants offered by University Grants Commission, UGC. In an official notification, Human Resources Development Ministry said, the panel will submit its report to the Ministry by the year-end. <br/><br/>It said, the Government has directed the UGC not to implement the Commission's decision to discontinue the non-NET fellowships and continue all existing fellowships. <br/><br/>The committee has been asked to determine the feasibility of enhancing the coverage of NET fellowships which are merit based, establish a transparent system of transfer of fellowship amounts every month to non-NET fellows and considering economic and non-economic criteria for eligibility for the fellowship.<br/><br/>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.<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.<br/><br/>