India secured 10th position at the 48th WorldSkills Competition in Shanghai, winning six Silver Medals and 20 Medals for Excellence as the global skills competition concluded on September 27.
The performance marks a significant improvement over India’s 13th-place finish at WorldSkills Lyon 2024. This year, India fielded its largest-ever contingent of 70 competitors across 63 skills, showcasing talent across technical, digital, creative, industrial and service-sector disciplines.
The six Silver Medals were won by Smriti Nambiar (Bakery), Mohammed Salam (Dental Prosthetics), Kovid Ajay Gangrade (Digital Interactive Media Design), Parth Vohra (Industrial Design Technology), Mehrunissa Begum (Logistics and Freight Forwarding), and Saniya Joshi (Retail Sales).
Smriti Nambiar was also named Best of Nation for India.
India’s 20 Medals for Excellence were awarded across technical, industrial, digital, creative and service-oriented skills. The recognition is given to competitors demonstrating a high level of professional proficiency against internationally established WorldSkills standards.
Held from September 22 to 27, the six-day event brought together more than 1,400 young competitors from around 70 countries and regions. The competition tested technical proficiency, innovation, precision and craftsmanship, following months of intensive training, mentorship and international benchmarking for participants.
A key highlight of India’s participation was its debut in 11 emerging skill categories, including 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.
The competition also highlighted the participation of young Indian women across diverse disciplines, including Chemical Laboratory Technology, Logistics and Freight Forwarding, Fashion Technology, Visual Merchandising, Health and Social Care and Hospitality.
Congratulating Team India, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Minister of State for Education Jayant Chaudhary said the six Silver Medals and 20 Medals for Excellence marked a significant step forward in India’s global skills journey. He credited the competitors, experts, trainers and industry partners for the achievement and highlighted the importance of building a future-ready skilling ecosystem.