WorldSkills 2024: India’s 60 Skilled Participants Get Ready to Compete in France

The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) recently hosted a momentous send-off ceremony for one of its largest-ever contingents—Team India for WorldSkills 2024. This esteemed group of 60 participants will represent India across 61 skill categories at the 47th WorldSkills Competition in Lyon, France, from September 10-15, 2024. The event, held at Euroexpo Lyon, is anticipated to draw more than 1,400 competitors and 1,300 experts, with over 2.5 lakh attendees expected.

Shri Jayant Chaudhary, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Minister of State for the Ministry of Education, conveyed his best wishes to the team during the ceremony. Highlighting India’s previous performance, where the nation secured the 11th rank in 2022, Shri Jayant Chaudhary expressed optimism about breaking into the top 10 this year. He praised the participants’ talents and resilience, emphasizing their role as ambassadors for the Skill India Mission and urging them to promote the nation’s skilling initiatives at the grassroots level.

WorldSkills, often described as the “Olympics of Skills,” will see Team India competing in 52 skill categories among over 70 participating countries. Preparation for this global event has been intense, with support from more than 100 industry and academic partners, including Toyota Kirloskar, Maruti, and Lincoln Electric.

This year’s training has been further enhanced by contributions from experts in various fields such as Festo India in Industry 4.0 and NIFT Delhi in Fashion Technology. The diverse team also includes women competing in traditionally male-dominated fields like Welding, Plumbing, and Heating, reflecting India’s broad and inclusive talent pool.

Shri Atul Kumar Tiwari, Secretary of MSDE, stressed the importance of this event for the skilling community, advocating for a shift from degree-focused education to credit-based skill development to support the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047. He celebrated the diversity and excellence of the participants and their potential to set new standards on the global stage.

Also read: IndiaSkills 2024 concluded with 58 winners to represent India in WorldSkills

The event also saw inspiring speeches from notable personalities including Mr. Vijender Singh, India’s first Olympic boxing medallist; Mr. Aman Sehrawat, a rising star in Indian wrestling; and Mr. Sharman Joshi, a versatile actor. Their words of encouragement and personal experiences served to motivate the participants as they prepare for the competition.

The WorldSkills competition will test competitors in various sectors such as construction, manufacturing, information technology, and creative arts. This year, Indian participants benefited from international training and exposure in countries like South Korea, Japan, and Switzerland. The final phase of training in Delhi included yoga sessions, psychological assessments, and nutritional advice.

The national selection for WorldSkills saw over 900 participants, culminating in the IndiaSkills National competition. In 2022, India achieved a remarkable 11th place, earning 13 Medallions of Excellence, including two silver and three bronze medals. Since its debut in 2007, India has made significant progress, with notable performances in 2017 and 2019.

IndiaSkills, an initiative by the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) under the MSDE, continues to be a crucial platform for identifying and nurturing young talent across various vocational fields.