Lok Sabha Question No. 4389 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-19
Subject: Centres of Excellence in North-Eastern Region
Ministry: TRIBAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Shri Pradyut Bordoloi

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO- 4389 TO BE ANSWERED ON- 19/03/2026

## CENTRES OF EXCELLENCE IN NORTH-EASTERN REGION

4389. SHRI PRADYUT BORDOLOI:

Will the Minister of TRIBAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of the Centres of Excellence recognised by the Government in the States in the North Eastern Region during the last five years, including their names and locations;
- (b) the details of financial assistance sanctioned, released and utilised for each of these Centres of Excellence during the last five years, State and year-wise;
- (c)  whether  the  Government  has  reviewed  the  performance  and  outcomes  of  the  Centres  of Excellence in Assam, if so, the details thereof including the reviewing authority, the conclusions arrived at and the measures taken in response and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (d) whether the Government has taken any measures to strengthen the functioning of the Centres of Excellence, if so, the details thereof including the proposed measures, tentative timelines and budget to be allocated and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATES FOR TRIBAL AFFAIRS (SHRI DURGADAS UIKEY)

- (a): No organisation in the States in the North Eastern Region has been recognised as Centres of Excellence by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs during the last five years.
- (b): Nil in view of (a) above.
- (c): There is no ongoing Centre of Excellence (CoE) project in Assam for the last three years. However,  National  Institute  of  Pharmaceutical  Education  and  Research  (NIPER),  Guwahati submitted  a  final  report  in  2022  for  the  project  titled  'To  study  and  access  the  knowledge  of traditional healthcare practices and traditional medicines used in tribal population and importantly scientific validation in North East India' entrusted to it in a meeting held on 01.03.2019 under the chairmanship  of  the  then  Secretary,  Ministry  of  Tribal  Affairs.  The  report  submitted  by  the organisation reviewed and was approved by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs. Copy of the approved report  was  also  shared  with  Ministry  of  Ayush  and  Secretary,  Ayush  has  also  appreciated  the efforts  of  the  Ministry. The  report  was  circulated  to Tribal  Welfare  Departments  (TWDs) of Assam and Meghalaya as well.

(d): The Ministry of Tribal Affairs has taken several measures to strengthen the functioning of the Centres of Excellence (CoEs). The details are as under:

1. The Ministry of Tribal Affairs regularly undertakes review meetings with the Centres of Excellence  to  monitor  their  progress,  identify  challenges  in  their  projects,  and  provide necessary directions.
2. The Ministry of Tribal Affairs has also conducted meetings with the concerned Centres of Excellence to review and facilitate the closure of past pending projects, with a view to ensuring timely completion and proper utilization of funds.
3. Further, the Ministry under the proposed revised guideline, the scope of work of CoEs has been expanded to include more than 28 thematic areas. The governance structure of the CoE programme is also being strengthened through a multi-tier appraisal and approval mechanism. This includes screening of proposals by a Programme Screening Committee (PSC)  and  approval  by  a  Programme  Appraisal  Committee  (PAC).  In  addition,  a mandatory  review  of  each  CoE  has  been  proposed  every  five  years.  Furthermore,  the proposal appraisal process through the PSC, along with consultation with the concerned State TRIs, has been incorporated to ensure that the activities proposed by the Centres of Excellence  do  not  duplicate  work  already  being  undertaken  under  the  Tribal  Research Institutes.  Budget  allocation  to  CoE  is  decided  by  the  PAC  depending  on  the  proposal considered and approved, taking into account the activity(s) proposed by the CoE.

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