Delhi emerges topper in the IndiaSkills 2021 Regional Competition, Northern Zone

The champions from Delhi got 12 gold and 9 silver medals in the IndiaSkills 2021 Regional Competition, leading the list of Northern Zone winners, after a fantastic exhibition of skills, talent, passion, and drive. In total, 109 individuals from eight states and one union territory were proclaimed champions in the competition. The first runners-up received a cash prize of INR 21,000, while the second runners-up received INR 11,000 in prize money.

The closing ceremony of the Northern Regional Competition was also graced by the presence of Dr. Anant Prakash Pandey, Director General, Foreign Cooperation and Mission Director, Haryana Skill Development Mission (HSDM), Government of Haryana, Dr. Neharika Vohra, Vice Chancellor, Delhi Skill and Entrepreneurship University, Padma Shri Kanwal Singh Chauhan, and Jaikant Singh, Senior Head, WorldSkills India who congratulated the winners and encouraged the youth.

The competition witnessed more than 450 young participants, aged between 19 and 24 years, from eight states and union territories—Chandigarh, Delhi, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Uttarakhand, and Uttar Pradesh—come together and show their potential in over 45 skills such as brick laying, autobody repair, welding, beauty therapy, hotel reception, mobile robotics, health and social care, landscape gardening, carpentry, painting and decorating, web technologies, among others. Delhi bagged the highest number of medals (21), followed by Chandigarh (19) and Haryana (19), Uttar Pradesh (18), Punjab (12), Uttarakhand (4) and Himachal Pradesh (2) and Jammu Kashmir (1). The skill competitions were held at 14 Partner Institutes (PIs) in Chandigarh (12), Himachal Pradesh (1) and Uttar Pradesh (1).

Mr. Ranbir Gangwa, Hon’ble Deputy Speaker, Government of Haryana said, “Through IndiaSkills, the youth is getting a lifelong opportunity to become a valuable resource for the country. This competition not only enables personal growth and recognition but exposes to the national and global platforms. Today, the world needs a skilled workforce. Therefore, we must try to fully utilise the potential of the youth through skill development. India should always be ready to meet the demand of a skilled workforce. Haryana is also making rapid strides to fulfil this requirement.”

Jaikant Singh, Senior Head, WorldSkills India said, “Under the guidance of Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), NSDC is committed to promote and skill the youth, inculcating entrepreneurial spirit in them through various schemes. IndiaSkills is one such initiative that makes the youth employable as well as pushes them towards creating employment for others. This is an important step in building a new India. NSDC and all stakeholders are tirelessly working to create an efficient skilling ecosystem for the youth of the country.”

Participants for regionals have been selected through competitions organised at the district/cluster and state levels in August-September 2021, which recorded over 250,000 registrations. This year, IndiaSkills Regional Competitions will bring together 1,500 participants from 30 states/union territories across four regions. Patna and Gandhinagar successfully completed the Eastern and Western chapters of IndiaSkills Regionals. Chandigarh has hosted IndiaSkills Regional Competition – North, and it will be followed by Visakhapatnam (South).

During these competitions, participants get multi-level industry training through boot camps and programs such as project-based training, industry and corporate training, exposure visits to industries, mind coaching, and personality development. NSDC, through its Sector Skill Councils (SSCs) and Partner Institutes, trains the candidates for competitions and future endeavours.

Also read: IndiaSkills Regional Competition-East: A glimpse of the outstanding performance of CGU students https://nationalskillsnetwork.in/indiaskills-regional-competition-east-a-glimpse-of-the-outstanding-performance-of-cgu-students/

NSDC has been leading India’s participation at the WorldSkills Competitions. WorldSkills, the gold standard for skilling excellence, is a biennial event that records participation from over 80 nations. Skilled and talented youth from across the world compete on the international platform in multiple trades.

In the previous edition of WorldSkills held in Kazan, Russia in 2019, India ranked 13 of 63 countries that participated in the global event. More than 1,350 candidates participated in 56 skills, and team India gave its best-ever performance by winning four medals—one gold, one silver, two bronze medals—along with 15 Medallions of Excellence.