Lucknow, 12

March (HS): As part of the Yogi government's efforts to skill the state's youth

and gain recognition on national and international platforms, the India

Skills 2025-26 North Regional Competition has been launched in the Taj

city of Agra. Organized under the aegis of the Ministry of Skill Development

and Entrepreneurship, this prestigious competition is seeing over 360

participants from five states and four union territories in North India

showcase their talent and technical proficiency in 41 different trades.

The

competition was inaugurated with a colourful ceremony. Youth from various

states graced the opening ceremony with their cultural performances. Chief

guest Arun Kumar, Deputy Director General, Ministry of Skill Development and

Entrepreneurship, encouraged the participants, stating that such competitions

provide valuable opportunities for youth to learn and hone their talents. He

added that every participant will learn something new and leave. During the

ceremony, teams from all states marched past, and participants and observers

were sworn in to participate in the competition with complete devotion and

honesty.

The

four-day competition will conclude with the felicitation of the winners on

March 14. Kapil Dev Agarwal, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for

Vocational Education, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, will be the chief

guest at the closing ceremony on March 14 and will felicitate the winners.

Minister

Kapil Dev Agarwal stated that the Yogi government is committed to providing the

state's youth with modern skills training and better employment and

self-employment opportunities. He added that competitions like India

Skills allow youth to recognize their talents and promote them to national

and global levels. Such events boost the state's youth's confidence and prepare

them for future challenges with technical proficiency.

On

Thursday, the first round of the competition introduced participants to modern

equipment and technical procedures related to their respective trades. After

technical experts briefed them on the intricacies of various equipment, the

main competitions began. Thirty talented participants selected by the Uttar

Pradesh Skill Development Mission are representing the state in this

competition. These participants are showcasing their skills in 15 different

skills, including important trades such as beauty therapy, plumbing and

heating, hairdressing, fashion technology, bricklaying, and refrigeration and

air conditioning.

Pulkit

Khare, Director of the Uttar Pradesh Skill Development Mission, congratulated

the state's participants, stating that the India Skills competition

provides a powerful platform for youth to showcase their talents at the

national and international levels. He added that the mission's objective is to

prepare the state's youth for global platforms like the World Skills

Competition 2026, enabling them to showcase their talents

internationally. This regional competition not only tests the youth's skills

but also serves as a powerful means to evaluate their innovation and technical

proficiency against global standards.

Hindusthan Samachar / Abhishek Awasthi