Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Jayant Chaudhary today said that the Centre and State governments are working in close coordination to strengthen skill development across the country. Addressing the India Skills National Competition 2025-26 in Greater Noida, the Minister hailed the performance of Indian participants in recent international competitions, including World Skills Asia, and expressed confidence that the country will achieve significant success at the upcoming global event in Shanghai. He said such platforms are helping showcase India’s growing capabilities in the skills sector.

 

Mr Chaudhary noted that over 650 participants took part in the four-day competition, highlighting the scale and diversity of talent. Emphasising the importance of skill development, he said that acquiring practical skills alongside formal education is essential in the modern world and will play a key role in shaping a self-reliant and future-ready workforce. He added that skill development forms an integral part of the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047 and underlined the government’s commitment to strengthening the sector through increased budgetary allocations for education and skill development initiatives.

 

Highlighting the growing outreach of the competition, the Minister said it received over 3 lakh 50 thousand applications across 63 skill categories from 36 States and Union Territories, reflecting widespread enthusiasm for skill-based learning across the country. He said the initiative is connecting talent from every corner of the nation and contributing to the creation of a robust, skilled workforce. In a social media post, Mr Chaudhary noted that the competition, spanning traditional crafts to modern technologies, is emerging as a strong platform where talent finds opportunities and aspirations gain direction. He expressed confidence that such initiatives will continue to inspire a new generation of skilled youth and strengthen India’s position on the global stage.