Bhubaneswar: The IndiaSkills Regional Competition 2025–26 for the eastern region concluded on a high note at the SDI Auditorium in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday, celebrating youth talent, technical excellence, and regional pride. Organised under the aegis of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) and supported by the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), the four-day event brought together over 200 skilled youth from Odisha, Bihar, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Participants competed across 59 skill categories, including 37 skills demonstrated onsite and 22 assessed through innovative evaluation formats, all aligned with national and global industry standards. The competition served as a vibrant platform to showcase emerging talent and promote excellence in vocational and technical education.
Addressing the closing ceremony, Union Minister of State (I/C) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Minister of State for Education, Jayant Chaudhary, said the event reflected the rising aspirations and capabilities of India’s youth. He noted that the eastern states are playing an increasingly significant role in strengthening the nation’s growth story, and the competition fostered a culture of excellence rooted in global benchmarks. Emphasising collaboration between states, industry, and institutions, he said such platforms ensure that talent from every district finds opportunities, advancing the collective journey towards a Viksit Bharat.
Odisha Minister for Industries, Skill Development and Technical Education, Sampad Chandra Swain, said true development is anchored in skills, capability, and access to opportunities. He highlighted Odisha’s forward-looking roadmap towards achieving the vision of a Viksit Odisha and underlined the role of the Skill India Mission in offering young individuals a global platform to demonstrate their abilities. The skills imparted today, he said, would shape future careers and open doors to international recognition.
Minister of State for Higher Education; Youth & Sports; and Odia Language, Literature and Culture, Suryabanshi Suraj, lauded the Skill India Mission for transforming skilling into a nationwide movement. He credited the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, and Jayant Chaudhary for giving renewed momentum and direction to the skilling ecosystem. Congratulating the winners, he encouraged participants to embrace lifelong learning and continuous improvement.
At the closing ceremony, 132 outstanding performers were awarded medals, including 53 Gold, 48 Silver, 31 Bronze, and 37 Medallions for Excellence. The competition featured a wide spectrum of skills, ranging from cloud computing, electronics, CNC machining, mobile app development, and web technologies to hospitality, beauty therapy, floristry, fashion technology, and welding. Odisha emerged as the top-performing state, followed by Bihar and West Bengal, highlighting the growing vocational training ecosystem in eastern India.
The winners will now progress within the IndiaSkills ecosystem as part of India’s national talent pipeline, with the potential to represent the country at WorldSkills and other international platforms. The competition underscored the expanding reach and effectiveness of skill development initiatives in the region, reflecting a robust system of talent identification, training, and benchmarking against global standards.
The closing ceremony also featured cultural performances and an audio-visual presentation capturing the journey of participants, celebrating their perseverance and achievements. Beyond awards, the event reinforced a larger vision — positioning skills as a powerful driver of empowerment, innovation, and national progress, aligned with the goals of Skill India, Atmanirbhar Bharat, and Viksit Bharat.
