Context

• The Bhagavad Gita (Verse 18.46) teaches that a person attains perfection by performing their work with dedication and devotion.
• This principle emphasises the dignity of labour and recognises craftsmanship as a virtue.
• India’s performance at the 48th WorldSkills Competition in Shanghai in September 2026 reflects the growing potential of its skilled workforce.
• Securing 10th position globally with 26 medals, including six silver medals, India demonstrated that vocational skills are essential for economic productivity and national development.

Skilled Talent on the World Stage

• The WorldSkills Competition, held every two years, is considered the Olympics of vocational skills.
• It brings together over 1,400 participants from approximately 70 countries to demonstrate expertise in welding, robotics, cybersecurity, industrial design and other trades.
• India’s performance has improved significantly, rising from 39th position in 2011 to 19th in 2017 and 13th in 2019 and 2024.
• In Shanghai, India achieved its best-ever performance, winning six silver medals and 20 Medallions for Excellence. Its 70-member team competed across 63 skills.
• Mohammed Salam won silver in dental prosthetics, Kovid Gangrade in digital interactive media design, and Saniya Joshi in retail sales.
• Smriti Nambiar, Parth Vohra and Mehrunissa Begum also secured silver medals in bakery, industrial design technology, and logistics and freight forwarding, respectively.
• These achievements challenge the traditional preference for academic qualifications over vocational careers.
• Skill-based professions deserve recognition equal to academic achievements, as economic development requires both theoretical knowledge and practical expertise.

Humble Beginnings to Excellence

• India’s medal winners demonstrate how talent can flourish through determination and appropriate opportunities.
• Kaif Khan from Lucknow developed his car-painting skills while working in a private automobile workshop after Class 10.
• Following success in IndiaSkills competitions, he received industry training and international exposure before earning a Medallion for Excellence in Shanghai.
• Mohammed Salam from Tamil Nadu won silver in dental prosthetics, a discipline requiring exceptional precision.
• Other Indian participants received recognition in automobile technology, additive manufacturing, Industry 4.0 and robot systems integration.
• These achievements demonstrate that talent exists across diverse social and geographical backgrounds, but access to quality training remains crucial.
• Identifying promising candidates, providing practical instruction and offering industry exposure can transform local talent into internationally competitive professionals.

From Capex and Opex to Skill-Ex

• Economic development traditionally emphasises capital expenditure (Capex), which creates infrastructure, and operational expenditure (Opex), which maintains it.
• However, factories, machinery and infrastructure cannot deliver their full potential without trained workers.
• Skill-Ex, or deliberate investment in human skills, must therefore become the third pillar of development.
• It improves productivity, strengthens industrial competitiveness and enables workers to operate advanced technologies effectively.
• The PM-SETU scheme, or Pradhan Mantri Skilling and Employability Transformation through Upgraded ITIs, reflects this approach.
• With an allocation of ₹60,000 crores, it aims to upgrade 1,000 government Industrial Training Institutes into 200 hubs and 800 spokes, with industry partners managing the clusters.
• Its success will depend on modern equipment, qualified instructors, updated curricula and measurable employment outcomes.

There Must Be a Focus on ‘Skill-Ex’

• Government initiatives alone cannot establish a sustainable skilling ecosystem.
• Industry participation is essential because employers understand evolving technological requirements and workplace needs.
• Businesses should invest in workforce training as seriously as they invest in machinery and infrastructure.
• Industry-linked apprenticeships, practical training, recognised certifications and continuous reskilling can reduce the gap between educational qualifications and employment requirements.
• India must also address the social stigma surrounding vocational occupations, uneven training quality and limited career progression.
• Skilled workers need fair wages, safe working conditions and opportunities for advancement.
• The dignity of labour must translate into practical recognition, rather than remaining a symbolic ideal.

Conclusion

• India’s WorldSkills 2026 performance demonstrates the potential of its young workforce when talent receives systematic training and institutional support.
• The priority now is to convert competitive achievements into large-scale employability, higher productivity and inclusive growth.
• Strengthening vocational institutions, expanding industry partnerships and investing in Skill-Ex can prepare India’s workforce for technological transformation.
• Ultimately, national progress depends not only on policymakers and infrastructure developers but also on those who weld, bake, paint, repair and manufacture with precision.
• As the Bhagavad Gita teaches, dedicated work is a source of excellence and service to society.