The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship announced India's first-time participation in eleven new skill categories at the 48th WorldSkills Competition in Shanghai, China, scheduled for 22-27 September 2026. Team Skill India will participate in 63 out of 64 skills with a contingent of nearly 70 competitors, representing one of India's largest and most diverse delegations to date.
The eleven new skill categories include Dental Prosthetics, Digital Interactive Media Design, Intelligent Security Technology, Landscape Gardening, Optoelectronic Technology, Retail Sales, Unmanned Aerial Systems, Industrial Mechanics, Software Testing, and Heavy Vehicle Technology. This expansion reflects the growing depth and maturity of India's skilling ecosystem, which is evolving from traditional trades to advanced technologies, specialized services, creative industries, and next-generation industrial capabilities.
The participation is being led by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship with the National Skill Development Corporation driving preparation through collaboration with industry partners, training institutions, and domain experts. Specific industry partners supporting preparation include Government Tool Room and Training Centre (GTTC), Karnataka; Metrowoods Landscape; NAMTECH, Gandhinagar; Bennett University; Croma; Titan Company Ltd – Tanishq; Shoppers Stop; Reliance Trends; SANY Heavy Industry India Pvt. Ltd.; Prakhar Software Solutions Ltd.; and Denexpert Dental Lab.
India's performance in global skill competitions has shown steady improvement, rising from 29th position at WorldSkills in 2015 to 13th position in 2024. The country further secured 8th rank in Asia at WorldSkills Asia 2025 and won five medals at the Taipei Capital Cup 2026. The Skill India Mission is building a preparation ecosystem anchored in industry partnerships, expert-led mentoring, structured training, and global exposure.