India Sends Largest-Ever Team to WorldSkills Shanghai 2026

The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship held a send-off ceremony at Kaushal Bhawan in New Delhi on 15 September 2026. It was for the Indian contingent going to WorldSkills Shanghai 2026. The team has 70 members. That makes it the largest Indian contingent ever sent to this competition.

The competition itself

The event is the 48th WorldSkills Competition. It will be held in Shanghai, China, from 22 to 27 September 2026. Team India will compete across 63 skill categories. The Shanghai edition will bring together more than 1,400 young competitors. They will come from over 60 countries and regions. In all, 64 skill competitions will be held there.

Eleven new categories

India will compete for the first time in 11 new-age and emerging skill categories. The list runs as follows.

• Unmanned Aerial Systems and Intelligent Security Technology
• Software Testing and Digital Interactive Media Design
• Optoelectronic Technology and Industrial Mechanics
• Heavy Vehicle Technology and Aircraft Maintenance
• Dental Prosthetics, Landscape Gardening and Retail Sales

The ministry describes this as a sign that the skilling system has moved beyond conventional trades.

Who was present

Jayant Chaudhary, Minister of State with Independent Charge for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, addressed Team India. He said the team represents a confident, creative and digitally agile generation. Uttar Pradesh minister Kapil Dev Aggarwal and Delhi minister Ashish Sood also spoke. Naveen Jindal, Member of Parliament and Chairman of Jindal Steel, attended; his company is the official merchandise sponsor of the campaign. The first cohort of 16 members of the WorldSkills India Champions Club was announced at the ceremony.

India's record at these games

The steady climb from the low placing of 2015 to a place in the top fifteen at Lyon is the point an examiner is most likely to test, so learn the two rankings as a pair.