Scores of students from Jawaharlal Nehru University and Delhi University today staged a protest against the UGC's move to do away with the non-National Eligibility Test (NET) fellowship, which is provided to those undertaking research in central universities across India.
The students led by the Left-backed All India Students' Association (AISA) condemned the move, saying it will reduce students' interest in research.
"Fellowships are like lifeline for students pursuing research in all central universities. If this is discontinued, it will be impossible for a vast majority of the country's students to engage in research and knowledge creation," said Ashutosh Kumar, Delhi State Secretary, AISA.
Another student Ritwika Chandel said, "this is no less than an onslaught on financial assistance to pursue education. We demand that this move is revoked and students encouraged to pursue research."
The scheme is in place for providing financial assistance to students undertaking MPhil and PhD - they are provided Rs 5,000 and Rs 8,000 per month respectively. PhD students get assistance for four years and MPhil students for 18 months. They also get a contingency amount per year to help them carry out their research.
However, UGC had decided to do away with the fellowship in the last meeting of the commission.
