India’s largest-ever contingent of 70 young skilled professionals has begun competing at WorldSkills Shanghai 2026, representing the country across 63 skill categories. The four-day global competition, which started on September 23, provides Indian competitors an opportunity to showcase their technical abilities and compete with talent from around the world.
Team India Competes in 63 Skill Categories
Shanghai, September 23: Competition officially began at the 48th WorldSkills Competition in Shanghai, China, with Team India’s 70 competitors taking part in 63 skill categories. The Indian delegation participated in the Opening Ceremony on September 22 at the Shanghai World Expo Cultural Center, joining nearly 1,400 competitors from more than 65 countries and regions.
Carrying the national flag and wearing Team India colours, the Indian competitors marched in the Parade of Nations, marking the formal start of the international skills event. Chinese Premier Li Qiang attended the ceremony and declared the competition open. A congratulatory letter from Chinese President Xi Jinping was also read during the ceremony.
The Indian delegation was led by Ms. Manisha Sensharma, Official Delegate, WorldSkills India and Senior Economic Adviser at the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), and Shri Dilip Kumar, Director General, Directorate General of Training (DGT) and CEO of the National Skill Organization (NSO).
Speaking about the team’s preparation, Shri Dilip Kumar said, “Our competitors have reached Shanghai after months of intensive technical preparation, repeated simulations and close mentoring by experts and industry partners.” He added that 14 of the 70 competitors come from Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs), with the team focusing on precision, composure and consistent performance.
For the first time, India is participating in 11 new skill categories, including Dental Prosthetics, Software Testing, Aircraft Maintenance, Retail Sales, Unmanned Aerial Systems and Heavy Vehicle Technology. The expansion reflects the growing range of skills being developed through India’s training institutions and industry partnerships.
Ms. Manisha Sensharma said the team’s participation was a moment of pride and would allow competitors to benchmark their abilities against global talent while learning from international peers.
The competitions are being held at the National Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai from September 23 to 26, followed by the Closing Ceremony on September 27. The event also includes the WorldSkills Expo and Conference.
India aims to build on its performance at WorldSkills Lyon 2024, where it won four bronze medals and 12 Medallions for Excellence.
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