PM meets young participants of WorldSkills Competition:Says they delivered outstanding performance in 2026 event

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday met representatives of the Indian contingent that participated in the WorldSkills Competition 2026 at his residence, 7 Lok Kalyan Marg, in New Delhi. India secured 10th place in the competition, held in Shanghai, China, from September 22 to 27. The country won six silver medals and 20 Medallions for Excellence. India had ranked 13th in 2024 and has now improved to 10th place. Modi said practical skills are as important for young people as academic degrees. He said skill training institutes should be given the same importance as IITs and IIMs. The Prime Minister said technology is changing rapidly, making it necessary for young people to continuously learn new skills, improve their capabilities and prepare themselves for emerging technologies. 6 young Indians win silver medals India had finished 13th in the 2024 competition held in Lyon, France. The Indian contingent had won four bronze medals and 12 Medallions for Excellence that year. This time, India fielded its largest-ever contingent of 70 competitors, who participated in 63 skill categories. More than 1,400 young people from around 70 countries and territories took part in the competition. Smriti Nambiar, who won a silver medal in the bakery category, also received the ‘Best of Nation’ honour as India’s top-performing participant. More than 1,400 competitors took part in the competition The six-day international event was held from September 22 to 27, 2026, and saw more than 1,400 young competitors from 70 countries participate. India was represented by its largest-ever contingent of 70 competitors, who competed in 63 fields, including emerging technologies, production, engineering and creativity. WorldSkills Competition tests young people’s talent The WorldSkills Competition 2026 is one of the world’s largest international competitions for young people to showcase their talent. It is often described as the Olympics of skills. Young people from different countries demonstrate their technology and business skills at the event. The competition tests not just theoretical knowledge but also how efficiently and accurately participants can perform a task.