IndiaSkills Regional Competition 2018 – Northern Chapter begins in Lucknow

The IndiaSkills Regional competitions are organized under the aegis of Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship to promote the aspirational value of skills among youth. The Northern chapter of IndiaSkills Regional Competitions 2018 began in Lucknow on 31st May 2018. 

Highlights of IndiaSkills Regional Competitions – Lucknow

The 3-day event will see 200 participants from the states of Jammu & Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab and Chandigarh, competing in nearly 27 occupational skill/ trade categories; ranging from beauty & wellness to hospitality, confectionery to masonry, automotive to electronics and more.

Dr. Dinesh Sharma, Deputy Chief Minister, Uttar Pradesh and Shri. Chetan Chauhan, Minister of Sports, Youth Welfare, Vocational Education and Skill Development, inaugurated the event and flagged off the competitions. The event was graced by the presence of senior officials from Central and State Government including Shri Bhuvnesh Kumar, Secretary, Department of Vocational Education & Skill Development, Shri Pranjal Yadav, Mission Director, UPSDM; Shri Jayant Krishna, ED & COO, NSDC, Shri Jaikant Singh, Senior Head – State Engagement, NSDC and Shri Ranjan Choudhary, Head – WorldSkills India, among others. Aimed at promoting world- class standards in vocational education and training, IndiaSkills Competitions are organized by National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) under the aegis of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE).

Lauding the initiative, Dr. Dinesh Sharma said, “IndiaSkills Competition is a key step to recognize talent of the youth in the country and is a drive towards making India the skill capital of the world. We believe that such competitions would help to promote vocational trades, encouraging youth to pursue skill training for their better livelihood. A skilled youth can contribute tremendously and positively towards the economic growth of the nation.”

“Historically, India has been rich in traditional skills and our youth’s competency has been acknowledged and recognised around the world. However, in today’s environment, it is important to gain formal skill training as per current industry standards and demands. Following the vision of our Hon’ble Prime Minister, it is our endeavor to integrate skill development as a backbone for all national missions and projects to ensure quality and success both for the individual and the nation at large. We have consistently focusing on decentralizing the efforts so that the benefits reach the last mile across districts and blocks in the country,” he further added.

“It is a proud moment for us to host the Northern Chapter of IndiaSkills Regional Competition 2018 and to see participation from eight other states. Uttar Pradesh has been at the fore front of skill development in the country and this is a great opportunity for us to showcase our talented and passionate workforce. We hope the participants not only perform their best but also gain from each other’s experience and this platform serves as big stepping stone for their successful career,” said Shri Chauhan addressing the gathering.

Commenting on the initiatives, Shri Rajesh Agrawal, Joint Secretary, MSDE said, “Skills form the foundation for a bright future of the nation. IndiaSkills competitions are designed with an objective to showcase the highest standards of skills in India and motivate youth to consider vocational education as a mainstream career option. The initiative will help us identify the best talent who could represent India at the WorldSkills International Competition and bring laurels to the country.”

Shri Jayant Krishna, ED & COO, NSDC commented, “The IndiaSkills Competitions is a drive towards promoting excellence in skills and recognizing talent of the youth in the country. The platform aims to raise aspiration amongst youth for skill training and encourage them to consider vocational education as a mainstream career option. The world-class standards in skill training can pave way for economic and social well-being of the people.”

The opening ceremony began with a short film focusing on the journey of the contestants from different backgrounds and geographies towards IndiaSkills Regional Competitions. This was followed by an oath ceremony, which was led by Karishma Gupta, a winner of Medallion of Excellence in Beauty Therapy at WorldSkills Abu Dhabi 2017. Besides Indira Gandhi Pratishthan, a few technical and automotive trade competitions have been organized at the Institute of Hotel Management, Lucknow; Central Institute of Plastics Engineering & Technology, Lucknow; Maruti Suzuki’s facility in Gurgaon and Indo Swiss Training Center in Chandigarh.

For the spectators, it is a revealing experience to see highly competent young people in action. The competition arena at Indira Gandhi Pratishthan has various activations for the visitors such as Try a Skill to showcase world-class standards in skill training; a Career Guidance Assessment by Mettl (an NSDC partner) to motivate young people to pursue education and training relevant to their choice of career; an Innovation Gallery where start-ups are showcasing their products. IndiaSkills is also promoting exchange of ideas and experience in vocational training through seminars and panel discussions.

The participants at the IndiaSkills Regional Competitions are selected after a rigorous selection process at the district and state level organized by 20 states. The winners from each state will compete in 4 regional competitions scheduled in Jaipur – West (24th to 26th May), Lucknow – North (31st May to 2nd June), Bhubaneswar – East (6th to 8th July) and Bangalore – South (15th to 17th July). The Northern edition of regional competition concludes on June 2, wherein the winners of the will be announced.