India finished 10th at the 48th WorldSkills Competition held in Shanghai from 22 to 27 September 2026, winning six silver medals and 20 Medallion for Excellence awards. The result marks India’s first entry into the top 10, up from 13th place at Lyon in 2024. China, the host nation, topped the overall medal table.
What Is the WorldSkills Competition?
The WorldSkills Competition is the world’s largest international skills contest for young professionals, held every two years across more than 60 trades. Competitors complete timed test projects judged against global occupational standards to win gold, silver, bronze medals and Medallion for Excellence awards.
The contest is often called the Olympics for vocational skills. Young welders, bakers, web developers, electricians, florists and robot programmers compete side by side. Each skill has a detailed technical description and a test project that mirrors real work. Experts from industry and training institutes judge accuracy, speed, quality and safety.
The WorldSkills Competition covers 64 skills in Shanghai across six sectors. Competitors must generally be 22 years or younger in the competition year. For a defined set of advanced skills such as Cloud Computing, Cyber Security, Mechatronics, Industry 4.0, Aircraft Maintenance and Water Technology, the age limit is relaxed to 25 years. Most skills are individual events. A few are team events with two members, such as Autonomous Mobile Robotics, Mechatronics and Industry 4.0.
| Sector | Examples of Skills |
|---|---|
| Construction and Building Technology | Bricklaying, Carpentry, Electrical Installations, Plumbing and Heating |
| Creative Arts and Fashion | Bakery, Fashion Technology, Jewellery, Graphic Design Technology |
| Information and Communication Technology | Web Technologies, Cloud Computing, Cyber Security, Software Testing |
| Manufacturing and Engineering Technology | Mechatronics, Welding, Industrial Control, Additive Manufacturing |
| Social and Personal Services | Beauty Therapy, Health and Social Care, Cooking, Hotel Reception |
| Transportation and Logistics | Automobile Technology, Logistics and Freight Forwarding, Aircraft Maintenance |
The Medallion for Excellence is a distinct award tier in the WorldSkills Competition. The WorldSkills Competition awards gold, silver and bronze only to the top three scorers in each skill. Competitors who score above a high global benchmark, but do not reach the top three, receive the Medallion for Excellence. It certifies world class proficiency against WorldSkills Occupational Standards (WSOS).
What Is WorldSkills International?
WorldSkills International is a non governmental global body that governs the WorldSkills Competition and sets international skill standards. Founded in 1950 and based in Amsterdam, it connects 90 member organisations across two thirds of the world population to promote vocational training and industry linked learning.
WorldSkills International began in the aftermath of the Second World War. Europe faced a severe shortage of skilled workers, and Spain responded with a youth skills contest. Francisco Albert Vidal organised the first event in Madrid in 1950 for young people from Spain and Portugal. Germany, France and other nations soon joined. The contest moved outside Spain for the first time to Brussels in Belgium, and grew into a global movement.
The body was first called the International Vocational Training Organisation (IVTO). The organisation was officially renamed WorldSkills International in 2000. The registered office of WorldSkills International is in Amsterdam, Netherlands. The vision of WorldSkills International is improving the world with the power of skills. Its mission is to raise the profile of skilled people and show how skills drive economic growth and personal success.
Beyond the biennial contest, WorldSkills International develops unified training standards, shares teaching methods and links governments, colleges and companies. The WorldSkills General Assembly meets every two years. The Competitions Committee of technical delegates frames the competition rules and test standards. India has been a member of the network and has participated in the WorldSkills Competition since 2007.
Where and When Was WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 Held?
WorldSkills Shanghai 2026, the 48th WorldSkills Competition, was held from 22 to 27 September 2026 in Shanghai, China. Skill contests ran from 23 to 26 September at the National Exhibition and Convention Center, while opening and closing ceremonies took place at the Shanghai World Expo Cultural Center.
WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 brought together around 1,385 competitors from 68 countries and regions in 64 skill contests. The main venue was the National Exhibition and Convention Center (NECC) in Shanghai, spread across eight halls and using about 360,000 square metres of floor space. Public viewing was open from 23 to 26 September. The opening ceremony took place on 22 September 2026. The closing and medal ceremony took place on 27 September 2026.
The Shanghai edition also hosted two parallel platforms. The WorldSkills Conference 2026 ran from 23 to 25 September in Hall 4.2H, where ministers, industry leaders, educators and youth delegates discussed technical and vocational education and training. The WorldSkills Expo ran from 23 to 26 September with nearly 300 booths and more than 100 hands on activities, including Try a Skill stations for students. The WorldSkills Museum in Shanghai, the only museum in the world dedicated entirely to skills, held extended hours and ran shuttle buses from the NECC.
WorldSkills India: 10th Place Finish and Medal Tally
WorldSkills India fielded its largest ever contingent at Shanghai, with 70 competitors across 63 skills covering manufacturing, engineering, digital technology, creative work and services. The squad finished 10th in the overall standings with 6 silver medals and 20 Medallion for Excellence awards. China finished first in the medal table, followed by Korea and Chinese Taipei. The result is a clear step up from 13th place at WorldSkills Lyon 2024, where India had won 4 bronze medals and 12 Medallion for Excellence awards.
The rise has been steady over fifteen years. India stood 39th in London in 2011. The rank improved to 33rd in Leipzig in 2013, 29th in Sao Paulo in 2015 and 19th in Abu Dhabi in 2017. The Kazan 2019 edition brought a breakthrough to 13th place along with India’s first WorldSkills gold. After repeating 13th at Lyon, Shanghai has now carried India into the top 10 for the first time.
| Edition | Host City | India Rank | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Medallion for Excellence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | London | 39th | 0 | 0 | 0 | Limited data |
| 2017 | Abu Dhabi | 19th | 1 | 1 | 0 | 9 |
| 2019 | Kazan | 13th | 1 | 1 | 2 | 15 |
| 2024 | Lyon | 13th | 0 | 0 | 4 | 12 |
| 2026 | Shanghai | 10th | 0 | 6 | 0 | 20 |
Six Silver Medals and Best of Nation Honour
The six silver medals for WorldSkills India in Shanghai came from a mix of creative, technical and service skills. Smriti Nambiar won silver in Bakery. Mohammed Salam won silver in Dental Prosthetics. Kovid Ajay Gangrade won silver in Digital Interactive Media Design. Parth Vohra won silver in Industrial Design Technology. Mehrunissa Begum won silver in Logistics and Freight Forwarding. Saniya Joshi won silver in Retail Sales.
| Skill | Silver Winner for India |
|---|---|
| Bakery | Smriti Nambiar |
| Dental Prosthetics | Mohammed Salam |
| Digital Interactive Media Design | Kovid Ajay Gangrade |
| Industrial Design Technology | Parth Vohra |
| Logistics and Freight Forwarding | Mehrunissa Begum |
| Retail Sales | Saniya Joshi |
Three of these silvers came in skills India entered for the first time, namely Dental Prosthetics, Digital Interactive Media Design and Retail Sales. India debuted in 11 disciplines in Shanghai, including Unmanned Aerial Systems, Intelligent Security Technology, Software Testing, Aircraft Maintenance and Optoelectronic Technology. Smriti Nambiar was also named Best of Nation for India, an honour given to the top scorer of each national team.
20 Medallion for Excellence and Widening Skill Base
The 20 Medallion for Excellence awards show depth beyond the podium. WorldSkills India earned medallions across Mechatronics, Autonomous Mobile Robotics, Industry 4.0, Additive Manufacturing, Robot Systems Integration, Automobile Technology, Chemical Laboratory Technology, Jewellery, Fashion Technology and Health and Social Care. The spread covers factory trades, digital systems, craft and care services.
The pattern matters. Earlier results leaned on a few traditional trades. Shanghai shows strength in new age manufacturing and services as well. Skills such as logistics, retail, digital media and dental prosthetics reflect jobs that are growing fast in India’s domestic economy. The performance signals that training standards are rising across states, institutes and industry partners, not only in a few centres.
How Is India Selected Through the Skill India Competition?
WorldSkills India selects its team through the IndiaSkills Competition, the national skills contest organised by the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE). The IndiaSkills Competition is the country’s premier platform to benchmark youth skills against global standards and to choose the squad for the WorldSkills Asia Competition and the WorldSkills Competition.
The pathway starts at the district level and moves to state contests, five regional contests and then the national final. Winners undergo long boot camp training with industry experts before the global event. For the 2025 to 2026 cycle linked to Shanghai, registrations opened on the Skill India Digital Hub and drew about 3.65 lakh entries across 63 skills from 36 states and union territories. The next cycle, IndiaSkills 2026 to 2027, is already open across 63 industry relevant skills and follows the same district to national ladder toward Aichi 2028.
Eligibility for the Skill India Competition mirrors WorldSkills rules. The minimum age is 16 years. For most skills, the competitor must be born on or after 1 January 2006. For advanced team and technology skills, the cut off is birth on or after 1 January 2003. A competitor can register for only one skill. Team skills need exactly two members from the same state.
| Category | Rule for IndiaSkills 2026 to 2027 Cycle |
|---|---|
| Minimum age | 16 years |
| General skills age cut off | Born on or after 1 January 2006 |
| Advanced skills age cut off | Born on or after 1 January 2003 |
| Advanced skills covered | Cloud Computing, Cyber Security, Mechatronics, Industry 4.0, Robot Systems Integration, Aircraft Maintenance, Dental Prosthetics, Water Technology and related trades |
| Registration portal | Skill India Digital Hub |
The WorldSkills India Champions Club, launched around World Youth Skills Day in 2026, brings past IndiaSkills and WorldSkills winners together as mentors and ambassadors. The club helps new competitors learn test tactics, work discipline and global benchmarks. The WorldSkills Asia Competition 2025 also served as a regional warm up for many Shanghai bound competitors, linking domestic success to Asian and then global exposure.
Where Will WorldSkills 2028 Be Held?
The 49th WorldSkills Competition, titled WorldSkills Aichi 2028, will be held from 15 to 20 November 2028 in Aichi, Japan. Skill contests will run from 16 to 19 November at the Aichi Sky Expo, while opening and closing ceremonies will take place at the IG Arena in Nagoya.
WorldSkills Aichi 2028 will be hosted at the Aichi International Exhibition Center (Aichi Sky Expo) in Tokoname City. The opening ceremony is set for 15 November 2028 and the closing ceremony for 20 November 2028 at the IG Arena in Nagoya City. The theme for Aichi is Linking Skills for a Sustainable Future. Organisers expect more than 65 countries and regions, about 1,700 competitors and around 300,000 visitors, with a strong focus on school students.
Japan won the hosting rights through a vote at the WorldSkills International General Assembly on 9 September 2024 in Lyon, France. This will be Japan’s fourth hosting after Tokyo in 1970, Osaka in 1985 and Shizuoka in 2007, and the first in 21 years. Aichi is the heartland of Japanese manufacturing and home to major automobile and robotics clusters. The choice fits the sustainability theme, as the region links factory automation, green technology and skilled jobs. The WorldSkills flag was formally handed over to Japan at the Shanghai closing ceremony on 27 September 2026.
Key Takeaways
- India finished 10th at the 48th WorldSkills Competition in Shanghai with 6 silver medals and 20 Medallion for Excellence awards.
- The 48th WorldSkills Competition was held from 22 to 27 September 2026 at the National Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai, China.
- Smriti Nambiar won silver in Bakery and was named Best of Nation for India at Shanghai 2026.
- WorldSkills International, founded in 1950 and based in Amsterdam, governs the biennial global skills contest.
- India is selected through the IndiaSkills Competition run by NSDC under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.
- The 49th edition, WorldSkills Aichi 2028, will be held from 15 to 20 November 2028 at the Aichi Sky Expo in Japan.
