In a dynamic step towards fostering competency and practical skill development, the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship has officially launched the India Skills 2023-24 program. This initiative seeks to empower a massive 2.5 million participants, marking a significant increase from the 250,000 participants in the previous year. The event also featured the felicitation of India’s winners at the WorldSkills 2022 competition, where the nation secured the 11th position on the global stage.
Union Minister for Skill Development, Dharmendra Pradhan, underscored the pivotal role of skill development, emphasizing that acquiring degrees alone is insufficient in the modern era. He advocated for the cultivation of employable skills, a shift that not only enhances the workforce’s capabilities but also elevates their market acceptance.
Minister Pradhan stressed the importance of an education system that equally values competencies, applied knowledge, and hands-on training. Bridging the gap between academic degrees and practical skills acquisition is imperative to navigate the complexities of the 21st century.
India Skills serves as the stepping stone to the prestigious WorldSkills competition, where participants who excel at the national level will represent India at the global stage. The upcoming WorldSkills event is scheduled to take place in Paris next year. WorldSkills is recognized as the world’s largest skill competition, held every two years and governed by WorldSkills International, which boasts 86 member countries.
These competitions not only set a benchmark for excellence but also provide an objective means to evaluate vocational expertise among the global workforce. The participation of over 200 industry and academic partners, including prominent names like Toyota Kirloskar, Mahindra, Saint-Gobain, Larsen & Toubro, Maruti Suzuki, and Infosys, reflects the significance of these initiatives.
The WorldSkills Competition in 2022 witnessed over 1,000 participants hailing from 58 countries, competing across 61 diverse skill categories. India proudly participated in 50 different skills, encompassing cutting-edge domains like robot system integration, additive manufacturing, Industry 4.0, digital construction, mobile application development, and renewable energy. Remarkably, India secured the 11th position, marking its best ranking since its inception in the competition in 2007.
As India embarks on the India Skills 2023-24 journey, it emphasizes the nation’s commitment to nurturing a highly skilled and competent workforce, capable of excelling not only on the national stage but also on the global platform.
