The IndiaSkills Regional Competition 2025–26 for the North-East was inaugurated today at Gauhati University, marking a significant milestone in bringing India’s premier skilling platform closer to youth from the region. The competition has brought together young talent from all eight North-Eastern states, who will compete across 26 skill categories over the course of the event.
The regional competition is being organised by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, with the National Skill Development Corporation as the implementation partner. For the first time, the flagship IndiaSkills championship is being hosted in the North-East, offering participants the opportunity to compete at a national-level platform within the region.
Addressing the gathering, Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Education Jayant Chaudhary said the youth of the North-East are prepared to play a leading role in India’s skilled workforce. He noted that sustained policy focus and engagement with the region have generated renewed confidence and aspiration among young people. He described IndiaSkills as a celebration of excellence, discipline and the dignity of work, and said the platform reflects confidence in the ability of North-Eastern youth to contribute meaningfully to national growth.
The minister also highlighted the importance of integrating skilling with formal education in line with the National Education Policy 2020. He said closer alignment between education and skill development expands pathways for employability, entrepreneurship and lifelong learning, while preparing youth for a rapidly evolving economy.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by senior academic and administrative leaders, officials from the central and state governments, and key stakeholders from the skilling ecosystem. Their presence underscored the collaborative effort to strengthen vocational education and skill development in the region.
A total of 162 competitors from the eight North-Eastern states are participating in the regional competition, reflecting strong regional representation and diversity of talent. Participants are competing across a wide range of contemporary and traditional skills, including automobile technology, cloud computing, mobile applications development, software and web technologies, digital interactive 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.
The competition highlights the growing participation of women in core technical and traditionally male-dominated trades such as automobile technology, electronics, CNC operations, electrical installations and welding. It also demonstrates the convergence of digital skills with manufacturing and services, aligning youth capabilities with Industry 4.0 requirements. At the same time, strong participation in hospitality, health and retail skills reflects alignment with key growth sectors in the North-East, particularly tourism and services.
Students from Directorate General of Training institutions, including Industrial Training Institutes and National Skill Training Institutes, are participating across several categories, showcasing the strengthening linkage between long-term vocational education and national competitive platforms under the Skill India Mission.
IndiaSkills follows a structured multi-tier evaluation process, beginning with district-level assessments, followed by state and regional competitions. Top performers from the regional stage will qualify for the IndiaSkills National Competition. Selected winners from the national level will earn the opportunity to represent India at the WorldSkills Competition scheduled to be held in Shanghai from September 22 to 27, 2026.
The North-East regional competition reflects the growing maturity of the skilling ecosystem in the region and reinforces the role of platforms such as IndiaSkills in connecting regional talent with industry demand and national development priorities.
