“The future belongs to those who continue to learn, adapt and innovate. India’s youth must be prepared not only for today’s jobs, but also for tomorrow’s opportunities,” said Shri Jayant Chaudhary, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Minister of State for Education, Government of India, at the World Youth Skills Day 2026 celebrations organised by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) at Kaushal Bhawan, New Delhi.

Emphasising that skilling must be viewed as a lifelong journey, the Minister said, “Through IndiaSkills, Centres of Excellence, apprenticeships and stronger industry partnerships, we are creating pathways that connect young people with opportunities in India and across the world. We must also encourage more women to enter non-traditional sectors and enable every young Indian to challenge the status quo, embrace change and contribute to Viksit Bharat.”

During the event, the Minister unveiled the IndiaSkills Competition 2026–27 Guidelines, outlining the roadmap for India’s flagship skill competition across 63 industry-relevant skill categories. Registrations are now open on the Skill India Digital Hub for aspiring competitors from across the country.

The WorldSkills India Champions Club was also launched to bring together IndiaSkills and WorldSkills champions as mentors and ambassadors. The initiative will enable past champions to inspire aspiring competitors, promote excellence in vocational skills and support the next generation of skilled talent.

India’s medal winners from the Global Skills Challenge Australia 2026 and the Taipei Capital Cup 2026 were felicitated for securing a combined tally of three Gold Medals, three Silver Medals, one Bronze Medal and three Merit Awards, reinforcing India’s growing competitiveness on the global skills stage.

The Ministry also unveiled the Guidelines for the Creation of Centres of Excellence under Skill India. These guidelines aim to support the development of world-class, industry-aligned training facilities equipped with modern infrastructure, advanced technologies and strong industry partnerships.

A major highlight was the introduction of the Training Programme for Multi-Skilled Caregivers under PMKVY, in line with the Union Budget 2026–27 announcement to skill 1.5 lakh caregiving professionals. Of these, 1.3 lakh candidates will be trained through the MSDE ecosystem, creating a professionally trained workforce for healthcare, geriatric and home-based care while opening new employment opportunities, particularly for women and youth.

The event also marked the extension of the Pilot Project for Apprenticeship Engagement under NAPS in the North Eastern Region, aimed at expanding access to workplace-based learning and strengthening industry participation across the region.

Speaking on the occasion, Ms. Debashree Mukherjee, Secretary, MSDE, said, “Over the past 11 years, Skill India has evolved into a connected national ecosystem built through partnerships with States, industry and training institutions, empowering more than six crore youth. As we enter the next phase, our focus must move from scale to quality, relevance and outcomes. The theme ‘Skills for a Shared Future’ also reminds us that women and girls must remain central to India’s growth story.”

MSDE also announced the constitution of a Committee on Gender Mainstreaming to advance women-led development across the skilling ecosystem. Bringing together Ministry divisions, partner institutions and concerned Ministries, the Committee will work in mission mode to address barriers across the skilling-to-employment pathway, including outreach, mobility, training, apprenticeships, placements, retention and career progression.

The Ministry will also invite entries for a Best Practices Compendium on Skilling and Employment for Women, documenting evidence-based models that have improved women’s access to skills, employment, entrepreneurship and inclusive workplaces. Entries will open on July 20, 2026, for participation by government departments, States and Union Territories, industry, training institutions, CSR organisations and civil society.

Another major initiative announced was the proposed Skills Outcomes Fund, an outcomes-based financing platform of approximately ₹530 crore that will combine Government funding, CSR contributions and philanthropic capital to support more than two lakh young people with industry-aligned skilling, employment and livelihood opportunities.

An MoU was first exchanged between MSDE and NSDC for establishing the Fund within NSDC under the aegis of the Ministry. This was followed by an MoU between NSDC and the British Asian India Foundation for developing the India Skills Outcomes Platform. Funding under the initiative will be linked to independently verified milestones such as certification, placement and retention, strengthening accountability, innovation and industry relevance.

The event also featured the unveiling of the design of the proposed sculpture, “Skilled India, Empowered India – A Collective Growth Story,” to be installed at Kaushal Bhawan. The sculpture pays tribute to generations of artisans, workers, professionals, innovators and entrepreneurs whose skills have shaped India’s progress.

Skilled women learners from the Chaudhary Ajit Singh Centre of Excellence for Design and Fashion Technology, Baghpat, Uttar Pradesh, were also felicitated. The Centre has trained its first batch of 50 women as advance Sewing Machine Operators through industry-aligned training that integrates modern technologies, AI-powered learning solutions, and advanced manufacturing practices. The initiative demonstrates how future-ready skilling is strengthening livelihoods, enhancing employability and advancing women's economic empowerment.

The event was attended by Shri Dilip Kumar, Director General, DGT; Shri Niranjan Kumar Sudhanshu, Additional Secretary, MSDE; Ms. Manisha Sensarma, Senior Economic Adviser, MSDE; Shri Arunkumar Pillai, CEO, NSDC; along with industry leaders, representatives of State Skill Missions and Sector Skill Councils, training partners, WorldSkills champions, learners and officials from across the Skill India ecosystem.

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