Shanghai. India improved its performance and secured 10th position in the 48th WorldSkills Competition 2026 held in Shanghai, China. Team India won 6 silver medals and 20 medals for excellence in the competition. India stood 13th in WorldSkills Lyon 2024, where the country got 4 bronze medals and 12 Medals for Excellence.
These six Indians won silver medals
Silver medal winners for India at WorldSkills Shanghai include Smriti Nambiar in Bakery, Mohammed Salam in Dental Prosthetics, Covid Ajay Gangrade in Digital Interactive Media Design, Parth Vohra in Industrial Design Technology, Mehrunnisa Begum in Logistics and Freight Forwarding and Sania Joshi in Retail Sales.
These achievements include different skills related to creative, technical and service sectors. Smriti Nambiar, who won the silver medal in Bakery, was also awarded the Best of Nation honour.
70 Indian youth took part in 63 skills
This six-day international competition was held in Shanghai from 22 to 27 September 2026. More than 1,400 youth participants from about 70 countries and regions participated in it.
This time India had sent its largest contingent till date. 70 competitors represented the country in 63 skill categories. These included skills in emerging technology, advanced manufacturing, engineering, creative industries and specialized service sectors.
Following the competitions that ran from 23 to 26 September, the winners were honored at a grand finale ceremony in Shanghai on 27 September.
Medal for Excellence to 20 participants
20 competitors from India won Medal for Excellence in different fields. This award is given to participants who demonstrate a high level of professional proficiency in line with WorldSkills international standards.
Medal for Excellence recipients:
| skill | participants |
|---|---|
| Intelligent Security Technology | Ragul Kanthamma Balraj |
| mechatronics | Deepu Mudigerepalya Srinivasa; Jayant Kariyappa |
| Mobile Applications Development | Arjun Sumathi Vijayabashkar |
| Electrical Installations | Dhanush Madhugiri Govindaraju |
| Plastering and Drywall Systems | Surenthiran Mani |
| Painting and Decorating | smile |
| Autonomous Mobile Robotics | Aditya Prakash; Debasish Panda |
| cabinet making | Yashwanth Chary Keshoju |
| Jewelry | Joy Das |
| Beauty Therapy | Tahesin Sabir Sutar |
| fashion technology | Vidhi Niravkumar Suthar |
| Automobile Technology | Md Seraj |
| Car Painting | Kaif Khan |
| IT Network Systems Administration (ITNSA) | Khushraj Nimesh Rathod |
| Graphic Design Technology | Rajeeb Lochan Chand |
| Health and Social Care | Vishnupriya Sunil |
| Industry 4.0 | Mallinath; Suhan Mascarenhas |
| Chemical Laboratory Technology | Sampada Desai |
| Additive Manufacturing | Pavan Bhadravati Suresha |
| Robot Systems Integration | Abhishek Somanna Shignalli; Vinay Muttayya Hiremath |
India’s entry in 11 new and emerging skill categories
The special thing about India’s participation this year was that the country participated for the first time in 11 new and emerging skill categories. These include 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.
This partnership reflects the growing focus on future jobs, new technologies and industry-based competencies in the country’s skilling ecosystem.
Women participants also had important participation
Indian women contestants represented the country in various technical, creative and service related skills at WorldSkills Shanghai. Women participated in various fields including Chemical Laboratory Technology, Logistics and Freight Forwarding, Fashion Technology, Visual Merchandising, Health and Social Care, Hospitality.
Jayant Chaudhary congratulated Team India
Minister of State (Independent Charge) in the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Minister of State for Education, Jayant Chaudhary congratulated Team India on the performance. He said that this performance along with 6 Silver Medals and 20 Medals for Excellence is an important achievement in India’s global skill journey. He also appreciated the contribution of the competitors, experts, trainers and industry partners.
He said the Indian youth have demonstrated confidence, tenacity and excellence on the global stage and this reinforces the commitment towards strengthening a future-ready skilling ecosystem.
Global exposure gained through competition
Manisha Sensarma, Official Delegate of WorldSkills India and Senior Economic Advisor of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship said that WorldSkills provides an opportunity to learn along with competition. Competitors and experts in Shanghai got to experience global business standards, new technologies and international best practices.
India’s participation in WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 was coordinated by the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE). There was cooperation from Sector Skill Councils, industry partners, training institutes and technical experts.
What is WorldSkills Competition?
WorldSkills is the world’s leading international skills competition, where young professionals from different countries and regions showcase their proficiency in technical and business skills. The competition is held every two years and focuses on global standards, exchange of technical knowledge and motivating youth for skill-based careers.