North-East Youth Ready to Lead India’s Skilled Workforce: Jayant Chaudhary
Minister inaugurates IndiaSkills Regional Competition 2025–26 in Guwahati with 162 competitors from eight states
- First-ever IndiaSkills Regional Competition for North-East launched in Assam
- 162 youth from eight states competing across 26 skill categories
- Strong participation of women in technical trades
- Top performers to represent India at WorldSkills 2026 in Shanghai
GG News Bureau
Guwahati, 19th Jan: Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Minister of State for Education, Jayant Chaudhary, on Monday inaugurated the IndiaSkills Regional Competition 2025–26 for the North-East at Gauhati University, declaring that youth from the region are ready to lead India’s skilled workforce.
The three-day regional competition, organised by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) in partnership with the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), has brought together 162 young competitors from all eight North-Eastern states to showcase their talent across 26 skill categories. This is the first time India’s premier national skilling championship is being hosted in the North-East region.
Addressing the gathering, Chaudhary said the Narendra Modi government’s consistent focus on the North-East — through frequent visits, investments and policy prioritisation — has opened new avenues for the region’s youth. He described IndiaSkills as more than a contest, calling it “a celebration of excellence, discipline and the dignity of work.”
“The North-East has immense talent and aspiration. This platform reflects our confidence that youth from this region are ready to lead India’s skilled workforce and contribute meaningfully to the nation’s growth,” he said.
The Minister also stressed the need to align skilling with formal education under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, arguing that closer integration would improve employability, entrepreneurship and lifelong learning while preparing students for an evolving digital economy.
Participants include trainees from Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) and National Skill Training Institutes (NSTIs) under the Directorate General of Training (DGT). Competitions are being held in areas such as Automobile Technology, Cloud Computing, Mobile App Development, Software and Web Technologies, Digital Media, Electronics, CNC Milling and Turning, Welding, Electrical Installations, Fashion Technology, Bakery and Patisserie, Hotel Reception, Restaurant Service, Health and Social Care, Retail Sales and Visual Merchandising.
Officials noted a visible rise in women’s participation in traditionally male-dominated trades such as automobile technology, electronics, CNC machining, electrical installations and welding — a trend seen as a major shift in the region’s skilling ecosystem.
The competition follows a multi-tier selection process: district-level assessment, state-level contests, regional rounds, and finally the IndiaSkills National Competition. Top performers from the national stage will represent India at the WorldSkills Competition in Shanghai from September 22 to 27, 2026.
The inaugural event was attended by Gauhati University Vice-Chancellor Dr. Nani Gopal Mahanta, Assam Principal Secretary Gyanendra Dev Tripathi, and MSDE Joint Secretary Hena Usman, along with senior officials and skilling stakeholders.
