The IndiaSkills Regional Competition 2025–26 for the North-East was inaugurated on Sunday at Gauhati University, bringing together young participants from all eight North-Eastern states to compete across 26 skill categories. The event was inaugurated by Jayant Chaudhary, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, who said that the youth of the North-East are prepared to take a leading role in India’s skilled workforce.
Organised by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship with the National Skill Development Corporation as the implementation partner, the competition is being held in the region for the first time. A total of 162 competitors are taking part in skills ranging from automobile technology, electronics, CNC and welding to cloud computing, fashion technology, hospitality, health care and retail services. The event also reflects rising participation of women in core technical trades.
Speaking at the inauguration, Chaudhary said the competition reflects the Centre’s focus on taking national platforms closer to regional talent and aligning skill training with education under the National Education Policy 2020. Winners from this stage will move on to the national competition, with select candidates qualifying for the WorldSkills event in Shanghai later this year. In Guwahati, the event is expected to give a modest boost to local businesses, including hotels, transport operators, food outlets and small service providers, as participants, officials and trainers from across the North-East stay in the city during the competition. Traders say such national-level events also help position Guwahati as a hub for education, training and skill-based activities in the region.