Shanghai, September 28, 2026: India secured 10th position at the 48th WorldSkills Competition in Shanghai, winning six Silver Medals and 20 Medals for Excellence, as the international skills competition concluded on September 27.
India improved its position from 13th at WorldSkills Lyon 2024, where the country had won four Bronze Medals and 12 Medals for Excellence. The latest performance reflects the growing participation of Indian youth across advanced technical, manufacturing, digital, creative and service-oriented skills.
India fielded its largest-ever contingent of 70 competitors across 63 skills at WorldSkills Shanghai 2026. The competition brought together more than 1,400 young competitors from around 70 countries and regions.
The six Silver Medals were won by Smriti Nambiar in Bakery, Mohammed Salam in Dental Prosthetics, Kovid Ajay Gangrade in Digital Interactive Media Design, Parth Vohra in Industrial Design Technology, Mehrunissa Begum in Logistics and Freight Forwarding, and Saniya Joshi in Retail Sales.
Smriti Nambiar, who won the Silver Medal in Bakery, was also recognised as Best of Nation for India. The country’s 20 Medals for Excellence were awarded to competitors who demonstrated a high level of professional proficiency against internationally established WorldSkills standards.
The six-day event was held from September 22 to 27, 2026, with four days of intensive competition from September 23 to 26. The winners were recognised at the grand closing ceremony in Shanghai on September 27, bringing together competitors, experts, international delegations and industry representatives.
Congratulating Team India, Jayant Chaudhary, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Minister of State for Education, said the performance represented a significant step forward in India’s global skills journey. He credited the competitors, experts, trainers and industry partners for contributing to the achievement and highlighted the importance of developing a future-ready skilling ecosystem.
India’s performance was supported by months of intensive preparation, specialised training, mentoring and international benchmarking. The WorldSkills platform also provided Indian competitors and experts with exposure to evolving occupational standards, new technologies and international practices.
A notable feature of India’s participation was its debut in 11 new and emerging skill categories. These included Dental Prosthetics, Digital Interactive Media Design, Intelligent Security Technology, Landscape Gardening, Optoelectronic Technology, Retail Sales, Unmanned Aerial Systems, Industrial Mechanics, Software Testing, Heavy Vehicle Technology and Aircraft Maintenance.
The expansion into these categories reflects the changing requirements of the global workforce, with increasing emphasis on technology-intensive occupations, advanced manufacturing and industry-specific competencies.
Women’s participation was another important aspect of India’s presence at the competition. Indian women competitors participated across technical, creative and service-oriented disciplines, including Chemical Laboratory Technology, Logistics and Freight Forwarding, Fashion Technology, Visual Merchandising, Health and Social Care and Hospitality.
Manisha Sensarma, Official Delegate, WorldSkills India and Senior Economic Adviser, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, said the competition offered participants an opportunity to learn alongside competing. She emphasised the importance of using the experience gained in Shanghai to strengthen training methodologies, assessment standards and industry engagement in India’s wider skilling ecosystem.
India’s participation was coordinated by the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, with support from Sector Skill Councils, industry partners, training institutions, technical experts and other stakeholders.
Beyond the medals, the WorldSkills experience is expected to contribute to India’s efforts to align vocational training and assessment with international benchmarks. Exposure to global technologies and occupational practices can also help inform future approaches to skills training and industry collaboration.
India’s 10th-place finish at WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 marks an improvement over its previous global ranking and highlights the country’s expanding presence across traditional trades as well as emerging technology-driven occupations. The participation of 70 young competitors across 63 skills also underscores the increasing diversity of India’s vocational talent pool.
As the Shanghai competition concludes, the results provide a platform for further strengthening India’s skills ecosystem through quality training, international benchmarking, industry partnerships and greater access to emerging occupational skills.
About WorldSkills: WorldSkills is an international skills competition that brings together young professionals from participating countries and regions to demonstrate excellence across vocational and technical disciplines. Held every two years, the competition promotes international occupational standards, knowledge exchange and skills development while encouraging young people to pursue skilled careers.