India is set to expand its global skills footprint with first-time participation in 11 new skill categories at the 48th WorldSkills Competition, scheduled to be held in Shanghai, China, from September 22 to 27.
Team Skill India will compete in 63 of the 64 skills at the competition, with a contingent of nearly 70 competitors, making it one of the country’s largest and most diverse representations at WorldSkills to date.
The 11 new skill categories in which India will participate for the first time are 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 new categories represent emerging areas shaping the future of work, including healthcare technologies, digital design, intelligent systems, drone technologies, advanced manufacturing, mobility solutions and customer-centric services. Their inclusion underscores India’s focus on aligning skill development with global industry requirements and creating pathways for young people in internationally benchmarked skill domains, according to a press release issued by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE).
India’s participation in these new categories also reflects the growing depth and maturity of its skilling ecosystem, which is expanding beyond traditional trades to encompass advanced technologies, specialised services, creative industries and next-generation industrial capabilities, the Ministry added.
The participation is being led under the aegis of the MSDE, with the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) spearheading India’s WorldSkills preparation in collaboration with industry partners, training institutions and domain experts.
Speaking on India’s participation, MSDE Secretary Debashree Mukherjee said, “India’s participation in these new skills reflects the evolution of our skilling ecosystem towards future-facing and globally relevant capabilities. Through strong partnerships and rigorous preparation, we are enabling our youth to compete with confidence and benchmark themselves against global standards.”
Preparation for the first-time categories is being supported by a collaborative network of specialised training institutions and industry partners.
India’s performance in global skills competitions has improved steadily over the years. From ranking 29th at WorldSkills in 2015, India rose to 13th position in 2024. The country further strengthened its international performance by securing eighth place in Asia at WorldSkills Asia 2025 and winning five medals at the Taipei Capital Cup 2026.
Under the Skill India Mission, the country is building a robust preparation ecosystem anchored in industry partnerships, expert-led mentoring, structured training, and global exposure.
The expanded participation at WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 marks another step in India’s efforts to establish itself as a global hub for skilled talent, the ministry said.
-PIB Inputs
