Sarkari Yojana
Scheme for Setting Up of Centre of Excellence
About Scheme for Setting Up of Centre of Excellence
The Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, runs the “Scheme for Setting Up of Centre of Excellence” to drive new product development, novel applications, innovation, technology and process improvement, quality upgrades, and environmentally sustainable practices. It funds up to 50% of total investment costs, capped at ₹5,00,00,000/-, mainly covering capital expenditure on laboratory equipment, plant machinery, and research staff, over five years. Applicants must be existing government entities with a proven research track record, submitting a detailed project report through their institution’s head. The Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals implements the scheme, and applications are accepted online, via email.
Scheme Overview
Central Government
Ministry Of Chemicals And Fertilizers
University / Institution
Scheme Details
Eligibility Requirements
To qualify for Scheme for Setting Up of Centre of Excellence, applicants must satisfy the following conditions:
The applicant must be an existing Central or…
The applicant must be an existing Central or State Government University, or a Government organization with a proven record of academic or research excellence.
The applicant must be currently active in R&D…
The applicant must be currently active in R&D within the chemical or petrochemical sector.
Current research engagement must be demonstrated via publications,…
Current research engagement must be demonstrated via publications, research projects, consultancy assignments, and registered PhD candidates.
Adequate land and building infrastructure must be available…
Adequate land and building infrastructure must be available to house the Centre, its scholars, equipment, and machinery.
Sufficient, competent research staff must be available for…
Sufficient, competent research staff must be available for the proposed field.
A Team Leader — an established research scientist…
A Team Leader — an established research scientist with the needed administrative experience — must be appointed.
The Team Leader must show continued research activity,…
The Team Leader must show continued research activity, with publications in peer-reviewed international journals over the last five years.
The Co-investigator and other team members must be…
The Co-investigator and other team members must be on the institute's permanent payroll.
The Co-investigator and other team members must have…
The Co-investigator and other team members must have international journal publications.
An industrial partner should be on board from…
An industrial partner should be on board from the start, to support applied research, technology transfer, and commercialization. Post-Selection Conditions
A Bond on non-judicial stamp paper must be…
A Bond on non-judicial stamp paper must be executed before any grants-in-aid are released.
Adequate safety and insurance measures must protect against…
Adequate safety and insurance measures must protect against loss of life or property linked to the Centre.
The applicant must indemnify, defend, and hold the…
The applicant must indemnify, defend, and hold the Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals harmless from any losses, expenses, or liabilities.
Prior Department permission is required before disposing of…
Prior Department permission is required before disposing of unserviceable capital equipment worth more than ₹1,00,000/-.
Benefits Provided
Scheme for Setting Up of Centre of Excellence provides the following benefits to eligible applicants:
Financial support covers up to 50% of total…
Financial support covers up to 50% of total project investment/costs, capped at ₹5,00,00,000/-.
Funding covers laboratory equipment, plant and machinery, research…
Funding covers laboratory equipment, plant and machinery, research literature, and consumables.
Funding also covers research staff — Junior Research…
Funding also covers research staff — Junior Research Fellow, Senior Research Fellow, and Research Associate — for the project's duration.
The grant covers workshops, conferences, or seminars in…
The grant covers workshops, conferences, or seminars in the relevant field, plus patent filing expenses.
Support from the Department runs for a period…
Support from the Department runs for a period of 5 years.
Funds are released to the beneficiary in three…
Funds are released to the beneficiary in three installments.
Any proceeds from disposing of capital equipment flow…
Any proceeds from disposing of capital equipment flow back to the Centre of Excellence. Disbursement
At least 50% of the sanctioned grant must…
At least 50% of the sanctioned grant must go exclusively toward equipment procurement.
No more than 10% of the total sanctioned…
No more than 10% of the total sanctioned grant may be spent on workshops, seminars, and conferences.
The second and third installments release only after…
The second and third installments release only after a satisfactory achievement-cum-performance report is received.
Subsequent installments depend on the Utilization Certificate being…
Subsequent installments depend on the Utilization Certificate being accepted and the Project Sanctioning Committee's approval. Conditions
The grantee institution must register on the Controller…
The grantee institution must register on the Controller General of Accounts website.
Progress reports and Utilization Certificates must be continuously…
Progress reports and Utilization Certificates must be continuously posted under the Expenditure Advance Transfer module.
Any unspent balance, plus accrued interest, must be…
Any unspent balance, plus accrued interest, must be refunded to the Government of India via an Account Payee Demand Draft.
An audited statement of accounts for the grant…
An audited statement of accounts for the grant must be submitted at the end of each financial year.
Half-yearly progress reports covering equipment purchased, patents filed,…
Half-yearly progress reports covering equipment purchased, patents filed, and scholar activities must go to the Department.
All acquired assets must be permanently installed at…
All acquired assets must be permanently installed at the Centre of Excellence, not any other department.
The Centre must report its achievements yearly, to…
The Centre must report its achievements yearly, to help document successes and shortcomings.
Documents Required
Applicants should keep the following documents ready before starting the application:
Project report in the prescribed proforma
Project report in the prescribed proforma
Proof of publications, research projects, consultancy assignments, and…
Proof of publications, research projects, consultancy assignments, and registered PhD candidates
Proof of the Team Leader's publications in peer-reviewed…
Proof of the Team Leader's publications in peer-reviewed international journals over the last five years
Proof of permanent payroll status for the Co-Investigator…
Proof of permanent payroll status for the Co-Investigator and other team members
Proof of international journal publications by the Co-Investigator…
Proof of international journal publications by the Co-Investigator and other team members
Bond on non-judicial stamp paper (needed at the…
Bond on non-judicial stamp paper (needed at the time of benefit disbursal)
Half-yearly progress reports (needed while benefits continue)
Half-yearly progress reports (needed while benefits continue)
Utilization certificate (needed at renewal/continuance)
Utilization certificate (needed at renewal/continuance)
Audited statement of accounts (needed at renewal/continuance)
Audited statement of accounts (needed at renewal/continuance)
How to Apply
Online Application
Applicants can apply for Scheme for Setting Up of Centre of Excellence through the online application process outlined below.
Preparation of the Project Report The Team Leader…
Preparation of the Project Report The Team Leader for the proposed Centre of Excellence prepares a comprehensive Project Report covering the broad research areas, using the enclosed proforma, and including a logical framework with sub-activities, outputs, assumptions, and timelines.
Internal Submission and Review The Team Leader submits…
Internal Submission and Review The Team Leader submits this Project Report to the institution's Head for thorough internal evaluation, assessing qualitative merit and how it compares against other units within the institution.
Endorsement by the Head of the Institution The…
Endorsement by the Head of the Institution The Head appends specific recommendations and observations on the centre's past achievements and available infrastructure, clearly stating its growth potential and the case for additional support.
Final Submission via Email The Head emails the…
Final Submission via Email The Head emails the finalized, complete proposal to shalini.mahajan@nic.in, attaching all required documentation before the deadline. Application Deadlines Complete proposals must be submitted by 31st July of the respective year. Grievance Redressal / Help & Support Queries can be directed to the Joint Director, Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals, at 011-23385263.
Official Application & Website
Verify the latest eligibility, dates and instructions before applying.