**Executive Summary**
This document details the Indian government's response to a parliamentary question regarding the establishment of Centres of Excellence (CoEs) in the petrochemical and chemical sector. As of December 12, 2025, the government provides grant-in-aid to selected research institutions, offering up to ₹5 crore per CoE project (50% of project cost). The scheme is open to all eligible institutions across India, and the document lists the 18 CoEs approved so far.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Scheme Overview:**
* The government extends grant-in-aid to selected research institutions to establish Centres of Excellence (CoEs).
* The aim is to strengthen technologies, advance research, and foster development of new applications in the Chemicals and Petrochemicals sector.
* **Financial Assistance:**
* Each CoE is eligible to receive financial assistance covering up to 50% of the total project cost.
* Assistance is subject to a ceiling of ₹5 crore.
* **Eligibility:**
* The scheme is open to all eligible institutions across India, without state or regional limitations.
* **CoEs Approved:**
* A list of 18 CoEs approved across the country is provided, including the state, location, and title of each CoE.
* **Andhra Pradesh Proposals:**
* In July 2024, the government invited applications for new CoEs, receiving 50 proposals, including two from Andhra Pradesh.
* One proposal from RECEPS Limited was rejected for not meeting the eligibility requirement of being a government institution.
* The other proposal from IIPE was evaluated but not included in the final recommendation.
**Impact Analysis**
**Research Institutions**
* **Impact:** Provides financial support for establishing CoEs, fostering innovation, and advancing research in the chemical and petrochemical sector.
* **Action Required:** Submit proposals for CoE establishment in line with the scheme guidelines and eligibility criteria.
**Indian Institute of Petroleum and Energy (IIPE), Visakhapatnam**
* **Impact:** Their proposal was evaluated, but not included in the final recommendation.
* **Action Required:** No specific action is mentioned, but may seek feedback and improve proposal for future submissions.
**RECEPS Limited, Visakhapatnam**
* **Impact:** Their proposal was rejected for not meeting eligibility requirements (not a government institution).
* **Action Required:** They would need to be a government insitution to qualify for the fund.
**Chemical and Petrochemical Sector**
* **Impact:** Enhanced research and development, innovation, and technological advancement through the CoE scheme.
* **Action Required:** Engage with CoEs to leverage research findings and develop new applications.
**State Governments**
* **Impact:** Encouraged to promote the establishment of CoEs in their respective states.
* **Action Required:** Facilitate the application process for eligible institutions and support the establishment of CoEs.
**Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers**
* **Impact:** Responsible for administering the scheme and ensuring balanced regional distribution of CoEs.
* **Action Required:** Continue to evaluate proposals, provide financial assistance, and monitor the progress of established CoEs.
**Institutions in Andhra Pradesh**
* **Impact:** Possibility of receiving funding for establishing CoEs.
* **Action Required:** Prepare and submit strong proposals for CoE establishment.
Key Entities Referenced
Centres of Excellence (CoEs): A scheme by the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers to establish research institutions in the chemical and petrochemical sector, offering financial aid.
Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers: The Indian government ministry responsible for setting up and managing the Centres of Excellence scheme.
New Scheme of Petrochemicals: The specific framework under which Centres of Excellence are being established in the petrochemical and chemical sector.
Andhra Pradesh: Indian state where the government received proposals for setting up Centres of Excellence (CoEs) under the New Scheme of Petrochemicals.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS
DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICALS AND PETROCHEMICALS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 2203
ANSWERED ON - 12/12/2025
SETTING UP OF CENTRES OF EXCELLENCE
2203: SHRI G LAKSHMINARAYANA:
Will the Minister of CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has received any proposals from institutes in Andhra Pradesh for
setting up Centres of Excellence (CoEs) in the petrochemical and chemical sector under the
New Scheme of Petrochemicals;
(b) if so, the details of such proposals approved/rejected including the institutes, nature of
proposed research and current status of approval and the reasons for non approval of such
proposals if any;
(c) whether the Government is planning to encourage or provide special incentives to promote
establishment of CoEs in Andhra Pradesh, and if so, the details thereof; and
(d) the steps being taken to ensure balanced regional distribution of CoEs across the country,
State-wise, particularly in Southern States like Andhra Pradesh?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS
(SMT. ANUPRIYA PATEL)
(a) to (d): Under the scheme for establishing Centres of Excellence (CoEs), the
Government extends grant-in-aid to selected research institutions with the aim of strengthening
existing technologies, advancing research, and fostering development of new applications in
the Chemicals and Petrochemicals sector. Each CoE is eligible to receive financial assistance
covering up to 50% of the total project cost, subject to a ceiling of ₹5 crore. The scheme is
open to all eligible institutions across India and is not limited to any particular State, Union
Territory, or Region.So far, the Government has approved the following 18 CoEs across the country:
S.No. State Location of the CoE Title of the CoE
Assam Indian Institute of Technology, Sustainable Polymers (SusPol)
1
Guwahati
Assam CSIR - North East Institute of Polymers, Their Composites and
2 Science & Technology (CSIR- Polymeric Membranes for Sustainable
NEIST), Jorhat Development of Petroleum Industries
Assam Indian Institute of Technology, Sustainable & innovative Design and
3 Guwahati manufacturing of polymer-
TOYS (SUNDAR - TOYS)
Delhi Indian Institute of Technology, Advanced Polymeric Materials
4
Delhi
Jharkhand Indian Institute of Technology Coal to Acetylene and Fine Chemicals
5
(Indian School of Mines), Dhanbad
Kerala CSIR-National Institute for Performance Chemicals and
Interdisciplinary Science and Sustainable Polymers for Industrial
6
Technology (CSIR-NIIST), Applications
Thiruvananthapuram
Madhya CSIR-Advanced Materials and Transparent and
Pradesh Processes Research Institute Biocompatible Metal-
(CSIR-AMPRI), Bhopal Polymer Composite Based X- ray,
7
Gamma ray and Neutron Shields for
Window and Personal Protecting
Apparels
Maharashtra CSIR- National Chemical Sustainable Polymer Industry to
8
Laboratory (NCL), Pune research & innovation
Maharashtra CSIR-NCL, Pune Specialty Polymers for Customized
9
Additive Manufacturing
Maharashtra Indian Rubber Materials Research Design and Development for Value
Institute (IRMRI) formerly known added Toys of Rubber and Allied
10 as Indian Rubber Manufacturers Finished Products
Research Association (IRMRA),
Thane
11 Odisha Central Institute of Petrochemicals Sustainable Green Materials
Engineering & Technology
(CIPET), Bhubaneswar
12 Odisha CIPET, Bhubaneswar Bio-engineered Sustainable
Polymeric Systems
13 Odisha CIPET, Bhubaneswar Manufacturing of Next Generation
Bio-Medical Devices
14 Tamil Nadu Central Institute of Petrochemicals Green Transport Network (GREET)
Engineering & Technology
(CIPET), Chennai
15 Tamil Nadu Indian Institute of Technology, Biodegradable Packaging Materials
Madras (BioPack)
16 Telangana CSIR- Indian Institute of Chemical Polymer Coatings for Decorative,
Technology (IICT), Hyderabad Protective and Strategic Applications17 Uttarakhand Indian Institute of Technology, Process Development, Wastewater
Roorkee Management in Petrochemical
Industries
18 Uttar Indian Institute of Technology, Specialty Chemicals
Pradesh Kanpur
In July 2024, the Government invited applications from eligible institutions for the
establishment of new Centres of Excellence (CoEs) and received a total of 50 proposals.
Among these, two proposals were received from Andhra Pradesh: (i) RECEPS Limited,
Visakhapatnam, with a focus on “Recovery & Reuse of Solvent for a Sustainable
Manufacturing & Production,” and (ii) the Indian Institute of Petroleum and Energy (IIPE),
Visakhapatnam, on “Sustainable and Innovative Process Engineering Technologies.”
Out of the 50 proposals received, the proposal from RECEPS Limited was not considered as it
did not meet the eligibility requirement of being a Government institution under the scheme
guidelines. The proposal from IIPE was evaluated by the Expert Committee as per the laid-
down criteria, but was not included in the final recommendation.
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