**Executive Summary**
This document is a response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. †1510, answered on February 9, 2026. The question inquired about the establishment of a Centre of Excellence for Skills in Shahdol and the number of students from Shahdol benefiting from Government scholarship schemes. The response clarifies the announcement of five National Centres of Excellence (COEs) for Skilling in the Union Budget 2025-26 and includes annexure data on Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Protsahan (PM-USP) beneficiaries from Shahdol and Madhya Pradesh.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Establishment of Centres of Excellence:**
* Five National Centres of Excellence (COEs) for Skilling were announced in the Union Budget 2025-26.
* These COEs aim to equip youth with skills required for the "Make for India, Make for the World" manufacturing initiative under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE).
* The COEs will focus on curriculum design, training of trainers, skills certification, and periodic reviews.
* The COEs intend to cater to the training needs of various sections of society, including youth from rural, tribal, and economically disadvantaged areas across the country.
* Guidelines for setting up the new COEs are under revision.
* **PM-USP Beneficiaries (Shahdol, Madhya Pradesh):**
* Annexure contains data for the number of students benefited under the Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Protsahan (PM-USP) from Shahdol, Madhya Pradesh.
* **Shahdol PM-USP CSSS (District):**
* 2022-23: 39 students, ₹532000 disbursed.
* 2023-24: 31 students, ₹428000 disbursed.
* 2024-25: 31 students, ₹396000 disbursed.
* **Madhya Pradesh PM-USP CSSS (State):**
* 2022-23: 16463 students, ₹216650000 disbursed.
* 2023-24: 14498 students, ₹189696000 disbursed.
* 2024-25: 15228 students, ₹197872000 disbursed.
**Impact Analysis**
**Ministry of Education/MSDE:**
* **Impact:** Responsible for the implementation and oversight of the COEs and the PM-USP scholarship scheme.
* **Action Required:** Finalize guidelines for setting up new COEs and continue to administer the PM-USP scholarship scheme.
**Youth in Rural, Tribal, and Economically Disadvantaged Areas:**
* **Impact:** Enhanced access to skills training and higher education opportunities through the COEs and the PM-USP scholarship scheme.
* **Action Required:** Apply for relevant training programs at the COEs and utilize the PM-USP scholarship scheme to pursue higher education.
**Students in Shahdol, Madhya Pradesh:**
* **Impact:** Affected by the availability of skill development opportunities and access to financial aid through PM-USP.
* **Action Required:** To benefit from the PM-USP scheme, students from Shahdol should apply and fulfill the eligibility criteria.
Key Entities Referenced
National Centres of Excellence (COEs) for Skilling: A program announced in the Union Budget 2025-26 to equip youth with skills required for manufacturing initiatives.
Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE): The ministry under whose aegis the National Centres of Excellence (COEs) for Skilling operate.
Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Protsahan (PM-USP): A government scholarship scheme under which students from Shahdol area have benefitted.
Shahdol: A parliamentary constituency of Madhya Pradesh, the location of the proposed Centre of Excellence for Skills.
Ministry of Education: The ministry responding to the question regarding the setting up of the Centre of Excellence for Skills in Shahdol.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. †1510
ANSWERED ON 09.02.2026
Setting up of Centre of Excellence for Skills in Shahdol
†1510. Smt. Himadri Singh:
Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government proposes to set up any new central institute or 'Centre of Excellence
for Skills' to facilitate access to higher education in tribal dominated areas, like Shahdol
Parliamentary Constituency of Madhya Pradesh and if so, the details thereof; and
(b) the number of students from Shahdol area who have benefitted through the Government
scholarship schemes, like Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Protsahan (PM-USP) during
the last three years along with the socio-economic impact thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
(DR. SUKANTA MAJUMDAR)
(a) & (b): Five National Centres of Excellence (COEs) for Skilling were announced in the
Union Budget 2025–26 to equip youth with skills required for the “Make for India, Make for
the World” manufacturing initiative under the aegis of Ministry of Skill Development and
Entrepreneurship (MSDE). As per the Budget announcement, these COEs are envisaged with
global expertise and partnerships for curriculum design, training of trainers, development of a
skills certification framework and periodic reviews. The proposed National COEs for Skilling
are intended to cater to the training needs of various sections of society, including youth from
rural, tribal and economically disadvantaged areas across the country. The guidelines for
setting up new COEs are under revision.
The number of students benefited under the Pradhan Mantri Uchcatar Shiksha Protsahan (PM-
USP) from the Shahdol, Madhya Pradesh during the last three years is attached as per Annexure.
****Annexure
ANNEXURE REFFERED TO IN REPLY TO PART (b) OF THE LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1510 ANSWERED ON 09.02.2026 ASKED BY
HON’BLE MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT SMT. HIMADRI SINGH REGARDING
SETTING UP OF CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE FOR SKILLS IN SHAHDOL.
PM-USP CSSS District-Shahdol, Madhya Pradesh
No. of Scholarships Amount
Fresh + Renewal
FY Total Total
2022-23 39 532000
2023-24 31 428000
2024-25 31 396000
Scholarship disbursed under PM-USP CSSS for the State of Madhya Pradesh
No. of Scholarships Amount
FY Fresh + Renewal
Total Total
2022-23 16463 216650000
2023-24 14498 189696000
2024-25 15228 197872000