India Climbs to 10th at WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 with Six Silver Medals

India secured 10th place at the 48th WorldSkills Competition in Shanghai, claiming six Silver Medals and 20 Medals for Excellence, an improvement on its 13th-place finish at WorldSkills Lyon 2024, where it won four Bronze Medals and 12 Medals for Excellence.

The six Silver Medals went to 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. Nambiar was also named Best of Nation for India. The 20 Medals for Excellence spanned technical, industrial, digital, creative and service skills.

The six-day competition, held from 22 to 27 September 2026, drew more than 1,400 young competitors from about 70 countries and regions. India fielded its largest-ever contingent of 70 competitors across 63 skills, covering emerging technologies, advanced manufacturing, engineering, creative industries and specialised services. After four days of competition from 23 to 26 September, winners were honoured at the closing ceremony on 27 September.

India made its debut in 11 new and emerging skill categories: 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. Women competitors represented India in categories including Chemical Laboratory Technology, Logistics and Freight Forwarding, Fashion Technology, Visual Merchandising, Health and Social Care and Hospitality.

Congratulating the team, Shri Jayant Chaudhary, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Minister of State for Education, described the result as a significant leap in India's global skills journey and credited competitors, experts, trainers and industry partners. Ms. Manisha Sensarma, Official Delegate, WorldSkills India and Senior Economic Adviser, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, said the competition offered exposure to evolving global occupational standards, new technologies and international best practices, which would be translated into stronger training methodologies and assessment standards.

India's participation was coordinated by the National Skill Development Corporation under the aegis of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, with support from Sector Skill Councils, industry partners, training institutions and technical experts. Medals for Excellence are awarded to competitors demonstrating high professional proficiency against internationally established WorldSkills standards.