India Ranks 10th at WorldSkills Shanghai 2026, Medals for Excellence

India ranks 10th at WorldSkills Shanghai which concluded on 27 September 2026. India won six Silver Medals and 20 Medals for Excellence, improving upon its 13th-place finish at WorldSkills Lyon 2024.

WorldSkills Competition

The WorldSkills Competition is an international vocational skills competition in which young professionals demonstrate excellence across a wide range of technical and occupational skills.

• The 48th edition was held in Shanghai from 22 to 27 September 2026, with competition rounds conducted from 23 to 26 September. 
• More than 1,400 young competitors from around 70 countries and regions participated in the event.
• The competition is held every two years and promotes international occupational standards, knowledge exchange and excellence in vocational skills.

Also Read:- Asian Games 2026 Medal Tally

India’s Participation and Skill Categories

India participated with its largest-ever contingent of 70 competitors across 63 skills, covering advanced manufacturing, engineering, digital technologies, creative industries and specialised services.

India also made its debut in 11 new and emerging skill categories, including:

• Unmanned Aerial Systems
• Intelligent Security Technology
• Software Testing
• Aircraft Maintenance
• Optoelectronic Technology
• Dental Prosthetics
• Digital Interactive Media Design
• Retail Sales

Three of India’s six Silver Medals came in categories in which India participated for the first time – Dental Prosthetics, Digital Interactive Media Design and Retail Sales.

The Indian team was coordinated by the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), with support from Sector Skill Councils, industry partners, training institutions, technical experts and trainers.

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India’s Performance at WorldSkills Shanghai 2026

India secured 10th position, with six Silver Medals and 20 Medals for Excellence across a diverse range of technical, creative and service-oriented skills.

India’s six Silver Medals were won in the following categories:

• Bakery → Smriti Nambiar
• Dental Prosthetics → Mohammed Salam
• Digital Interactive Media Design → Kovid Ajay Gangrade
• Industrial Design Technology → Parth Vohra
• Logistics and Freight Forwarding → Mehrunissa Begum
• Retail Sales → Saniya Joshi

Smriti Nambiar, who won the Silver Medal in Bakery, was also recognised as Best of the Nation for India.

India also secured 20 Medals for Excellence across occupations such as Mechatronics, Autonomous Mobile Robotics, Industry 4.0, Additive Manufacturing, Robot Systems Integration, Automobile Technology, Chemical Laboratory Technology, Jewellery, Fashion Technology, and Health and Social Care.

India’s Progress at WorldSkills

India’s performance at the WorldSkills Competition has improved steadily over successive editions.

• London 2011 → 39th position
• Leipzig 2013 → 33rd position
• São Paulo 2015 → 29th position
• Abu Dhabi 2017 → 19th position
• Kazan 2019 → 13th position and India’s first WorldSkills Gold Medal
• Lyon 2024 → 13th position
• Shanghai 2026 → 10th position

The Shanghai edition therefore marked India’s first entry into the top 10 of the WorldSkills Competition.

Medals for Excellence

A Medal for Excellence is awarded to competitors who demonstrate a high level of professional proficiency against internationally established WorldSkills standards. India’s 20 Medals for Excellence at Shanghai covered technical, industrial, digital, creative and service-oriented occupations, demonstrating the breadth of skills represented by the Indian team.

Significance for India

India’s performance at WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 highlights the growing capabilities of its young skilled workforce. The competition provided exposure to new technologies, international occupational standards and global best practices, which can help improve training and assessment methods in India. India’s participation in emerging skill categories also reflects the growing focus on future-oriented occupations and industry-relevant skills.