Bhubaneswar, 07 January (H.S.): Industries, Skill Development and Technical Education Minister Sampad Chandra Swain on Wednesday inaugurated Odisha Skills 2025–26 at the World Skill Centre in Bhubaneswar, underscoring that a skilled youth force forms the foundation of a developed Odisha.

Addressing the inaugural ceremony, the Minister said skill development is a critical driver of the State’s social and economic transformation. He described Odisha Skills not merely as a competition, but as a powerful platform that nurtures discipline, confidence, creativity and a pursuit of excellence among young participants. A developed Odisha, he said, can be built only by a skilled, confident and globally competitive youth population, a vision reflected through the Odisha Skills initiative.

The competition has brought together over 500 young participants from across the State, who are competing in 49 skill categories aligned with industry requirements and emerging technologies. Winners at the State level will represent Odisha at the national stage and may subsequently participate in the WorldSkills Competition, often referred to as the “Skill Olympics,” which is held once every two years.

This year, Odisha Skills 2025–26 is being conducted across 10 major locations in the State. Winners in each skill category will be conferred the Chief Minister’s Skill Award under the Chief Minister Aspire Scheme, recognising excellence and motivating youth to achieve higher levels of professional competence.

The Minister urged students to view Odisha Skills not as a final destination, but as a stepping stone in their professional journey. He also advised institutions and trainers to draw lessons from the competition outcomes and prepare action plans to improve training quality and institutional performance.

Commissioner-cum-Secretary of the Skill Development and Technical Education Department Bhupendra Singh Poonia encouraged participants and institutions to use the platform to identify best practices and align training with industry standards.

Senior officials of the department, World Skill Centre leadership, principals and deputy principals, industry partners, experts, jury members and other stakeholders were present at the event.

The three-day competition will conclude with a felicitation ceremony for the winners on January 9, celebrating skill excellence and youth empowerment in Odisha.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda