CHANDIGARH: In an effort towards fostering inclusivity and embracing the evolving landscape of skills development, IndiaSkills Competition 2024 is providing an equal platform for both traditional and new-age skills. Stakeholders are ensuring that students who are competing in trades like plumbing and carpentry are receiving the same exposure as those participating in emerging trades like Autonomous Mobile Robotics and Augmented Reality/Virtual reality.
IndiaSkills 2024 is ongoing at Yashobhoomi, Dwarka from 15th to 19th May 2024 and has witnessed the participation of 900+ candidates from 30+ states and Union Territories in 61 skills and 400+ industry experts. By fostering an environment where all participants are empowered to showcase their expertise and creativity, the competition is nurturing the essence of inclusivity and progressive skill development.
Candidates are participating with great enthusiasm in new-age skills like Cyber Security, Cloud Computing, Additive Manufacturing, Autobody Repair, Automobile Technology, Digital Construction, Autonomous Mobile Robotics, Mobile Application Development. Meanwhile, those in traditional skills like Welding, Bricklaying, Carpentry, Shoe Making, Leather Garment Making, and Textile Weaving Handloom are also getting the same exposure and opportunities.
Faheem Javed, a candidate from Kupwara district in Jammu and Kashmir in Graphic Design technology, said, “Embracing new-age skills has been instrumental in shaping my journey from a small town in Kupwara, Jammu to the forefront of the IT startup scene. The IndiaSkills Competition provided me with a platform to showcase my abilities and ignited a fire within me to excel in graphic designing and app development. Today, as I navigate the realms of IoT devices and global startups, I am grateful for the opportunities presented by Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.”
Participating in Wielding Reena Wagha from Odisha said that through the sparks of her welding torch, she ignited a path towards empowerment and achievement. The IndiaSkills competition has been her platform to break barriers and showcase the power of determination. Thanks to the MSDE, today she stands proud, ready to represent India in Lyon, France.
Shri Atul Kumar Tiwari, Secretary, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) visited the venue and personally interacted with the candidates. His presence served as a catalyst for motivation, instilling confidence in the candidates and reaffirming their importance in shaping the future of India’s skill ecosystem.
Speaking at the event he said, “Candidates are the backbone of our nation’s skill ecosystem, and witnessing their dedication and passion first-hand reaffirms our commitment to empowering every individual with opportunities for growth and success. IndiaSkills Competition 2024 exemplifies the spirit of inclusivity and innovation, and I am confident that our participants will continue to inspire us with their talent and determination. It was great interacting with every competitor here and learning about their journey to IndiaSkills. MSDE will continue to support these candidates in every possible way. We are proud that some of our winners of previous editions have taken on the role of Jury member guiding the candidates through their rich experience.”
While 47 skills competition are being held onsite, 14 are being held offsite in Karnataka, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Gujarat keeping in mind the best infrastructure available. Participants will also participate in 9 exhibition skills like Drone-Filming making, Textile-Weaving, Leather-Shoemaking, and prosthetics-makeup.
This year, women participation in the competition has also increased. More than 170 women are participating in trades that were previously dominated by men like Logistics & Freight Forwarding, Web Technologies and Wielding. Women are also competing head-to-head with men in new-age skills like Water Technology, Cloud Computing, and 3D Digital Game Art.
Winners of IndiaSkills 2024, with the help of best industry trainers, will prepare for the WorldSkills Competition scheduled to take place in Lyon, France in September 2024 and will bring together 1,500 competitors from over 70 countries. This year, early trends further predict that India will win medals in automobile, hospitality, mechatronics, and water technology in WorldSkills.
This year the participants will have the opportunity to earn credits, within the National Credit Framework. All skills showcased in both the WorldSkills and IndiaSkills Competitions are meticulously aligned with the National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF), empowering participants to creditize their learning outcomes and lead a thriving career in their chosen fields. It is also the first time that IndiaSkills has incorporated a competition information system called Qrencia.
About 2.5 lakh candidates registered for the competition on the Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH) Portal, out of which 26,000 were shortlisted through a process of pre-screening. This data was shared with the states for organising the state and district level competition, out of which 900+ students were further shortlisted for IndiaSkills National competition.
This year, IndiaSkills is supported by more than 400 Industry and Academic Partners like Toyota Kirloskar, Autodesk, JK Cement, Maruti Suzuki, Lincoln Electric, NAMTECH, Vega, Loreal, Schneider Electric, Festo India, Artemis, Medanta, and Cygnia Healthcare.