IndiaSkills Competition 2024 kicks off in Delhi with over 900 participants

New Delhi: The IndiaSkills Competition 2024, the country’s largest skill competition, commenced on May 15 here at Yashobhoomi, Dwarka. Organised by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), the event will run until May 19, 2024. Over 900 candidates from more than 30 states and union territories are participating, alongside 400-plus industry experts.

During the competition, participants will showcase their diverse talents across 61 skills, ranging from traditional crafts to cutting-edge technologies. Of these, 47 competitions will take place onsite, while 14 will be held offsite in Karnataka, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat, leveraging the best available infrastructure. Additionally, nine exhibition skills, including drone filming, textile weaving, leather shoemaking and prosthetics makeup, will be featured. The National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), operating under the aegis of MSDE, is implementing the event.

The opening ceremony was attended by notable dignitaries, including Atul Kumar Tiwari, secretary, MSDE; Nilambuj Sharan, senior economic advisor, MSDE; Trishaljeet Sethi, DG training, MSDE; Sonal Mishra, joint secretary, MSDE; Hena Usman, joint secretary, MSDE; and Ved Mani Tiwari, officiating COO of NSDC. The ceremony included team showcases from participating states and a cultural programme featuring diverse dance forms from across the country.

Atul Kumar Tiwari, secretary, MSDE, highlighted that IndiaSkills 2024 is more than a competition—it is a celebration of skill, innovation and determination. Ved Mani Tiwari, CEO of NSDC, emphasised that IndiaSkills serves as a platform to nurture aspirations and foster creativity, contributing to a more inclusive society.

Over the next three days, participants will compete in various fields, including construction and building technology, creative arts and fashion, information and communication technology, manufacturing and engineering technology, and transportation and logistics. The event will conclude with a grand closing ceremony on May 19.

The winners of IndiaSkills will receive training from top industry experts to prepare for the WorldSkills Competition scheduled in Lyon, France, in September 2024, which will feature 1,500 competitors from over 70 countries. Early trends suggest that India is poised to win medals in categories such as automobile, hospitality, mechatronics, and water technology.

Participants this year will also have the opportunity to earn credits within the National Credit Framework. All skills showcased in both the WorldSkills and IndiaSkills Competitions align with the National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF), enabling participants to creditize their learning outcomes and pursue thriving careers. Additionally, this year marks the introduction of a competition information system called Qrencia.

The event saw registrations from approximately 2.5 lakh candidates on the Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH) Portal, with 26,000 shortlisted through a pre-screening process. Ultimately, over 900 candidates were selected for the national competition.

IndiaSkills 2024 is supported by over 400 industry and academic partners, including Toyota Kirloskar, Autodesk, JK Cement, Maruti Suzuki, Lincoln Electric, NAMTECH, Vega, L’Oréal, Schneider Electric, Festo India, Artemis, Medanta, and Cygnia Healthcare.