Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, 9 October 2026, met members of India's contingent from the WorldSkills Competition Shanghai 2026, congratulating the young participants for their record-breaking performance on the global stage. The interaction took place at the Prime Minister's official residence at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg, New Delhi.

What the Prime Minister Said

Modi underlined the government's rationale for establishing a dedicated Ministry of Skill Development, asserting that the importance of skill training institutions is no less than that of IITs and IIMs. He urged the participants to share their firsthand experiences and suggestions with the government to help strengthen India's skill training ecosystem.

The Prime Minister also praised the contingent members for their outstanding showing at the international competition and expressed his pleasure at meeting and motivating the young achievers. He shared highlights of the meeting on social media, drawing wider attention to the milestone.

India's Best-Ever WorldSkills Result

India recorded its best-ever performance at the 48th WorldSkills Competition, held from 22 to 27 September 2026 at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (NECC) in Shanghai. The country secured six silver medals and 20 Medallions for Excellence, finishing 10th in the overall rankings.

This marks a sharp improvement from the previous edition held in Lyon, France, in 2024, where India finished 13th, having won four bronze medals and 12 Medallions for Excellence. The jump of three places in overall rankings — and the upgrade from bronze to silver — signals a tangible leap in the quality of India's skilled workforce training.

Scale of India's Participation

India fielded its largest-ever contingent of 70 competitors, who participated across 63 skill categories spanning emerging technologies, advanced manufacturing, engineering, creative industries and specialised services. The six-day event brought together more than 1,400 young competitors from nearly 70 countries and regions, according to the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.

India's participation was coordinated by the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, with support from Sector Skill Councils, industry partners, training institutions and technical experts.

Significance and What Comes Next

The Prime Minister's remarks elevating skill institutes to the stature of IITs and IIMs come as India pushes to bridge the gap between higher education prestige and vocational training. With the government actively seeking competitor feedback, further reforms to India's skill development infrastructure are expected. The improved WorldSkills ranking is likely to be cited as evidence that increased investment in vocational training is yielding measurable results on the world stage.