The government has initiated the ‘IndiaSkills National Competition 2025–26’, bringing together over 650 participants from across India to compete in 63 skill categories. Organized under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) and supported by the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), the program features top performers selected from regional rounds nationwide. This event aims to promote skill excellence and develop a future-ready workforce in alignment with national priorities.
Addressing the audience, Debashree Mukherjee, Secretary of MSDE, emphasized the significance of platforms like IndiaSkills in inspiring youth to pursue skill-based careers and excel in their chosen fields. She mentioned India’s preparation to send a strong team to the WorldSkills Competition in Shanghai, showcasing the country’s increasing focus on nurturing a globally competitive skilled workforce.
Manisha Sensarma, Senior Economic Adviser at MSDE, highlighted that this initiative is part of a broader effort to establish a structured and industry-aligned skilling ecosystem, with the involvement of over 200 industry partners from various sectors. NSDC CEO Arunkumar Pillai stressed the importance of industry collaboration, emphasizing that the competition aligns training programs with real-world needs and global benchmarks.
The ongoing edition of the competition has seen more than 3.65 lakh registrations from 36 states and Union Territories through the Skill India Digital Hub, indicating a rising interest among young individuals in skill-based professions, as per government reports. The competition encompasses a diverse array of domains, including both traditional skills like electrical installation and electronics, and emerging areas such as cyber security, additive manufacturing, autonomous mobile robotics, and Industry 4.0.
Participants will undergo evaluation by industry experts based on criteria like precision, efficiency, and compliance with global standards. Out of the 63 categories, 43 are being conducted onsite, while the rest are being assessed through offsite formats. Winners of the national competition will have the opportunity to represent India at the WorldSkills Competition Shanghai 2026, with the event scheduled to run until April 2.
