IndiaSkills 2025–26: North East Regional Competition to be held at Gauhati University, Assam from 19–22 January

The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship is organising the North East Regional Competition of IndiaSkills 2025–26 from 19 to 22 January 2026 at Gauhati University, marking a significant milestone in India’s national skilling ecosystem. This is the first time a dedicated IndiaSkills Regional Competition is being conducted exclusively for the North Eastern Region, with participation from all eight North Eastern States. The National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) is serving as the knowledge partner and implementing agency for IndiaSkills Competition 2025–26. The competition will bring together skilled youth from all eight North-Eastern states to compete across 26 skill categories on a national platform celebrating regional talent and excellence.

The competition will be inaugurated on 19 January 2026 by Shri Jayant Chaudhary, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Minister of State for Education, Government of India, reaffirming the Government’s commitment to strengthening skill development, regional inclusion and competitive excellence across emerging regions of the country.

Smt. Hena Usman, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Government of India addressed the pre-event press conference. The North East Regional Competition represents a decisive step in deepening India’s skilling architecture across emerging regions.

IndiaSkills is the country’s premier national skill competition framework, designed to identify, nurture and benchmark India’s best vocational talent against global standards, while creating a structured progression pathway for skilled youth from the grassroots to national and international platforms, including the WorldSkills Competition. The ongoing IndiaSkills Competition 2025–26 cycle has witnessed one of the widest participation footprints to date, with 3.65 lakh candidates registering from 35 States and Union Territories across 63 skill categories, through the Skill India Digital Hub.

The competition will commence with the Opening Ceremony at the B.K.B Auditorium, Gauhati University followed by a familiarisation programme on January 19.

The regional competition has been conceptualised to reduce geographic and logistical barriers for participation, strengthen skill ecosystems in the North Eastern Region, and identify region-specific strengths and high-potential candidates aligned with industry demand and national priorities.

This integrated approach ensures strong industry alignment, high-quality competition standards and adherence to national and international benchmarks. Winners from the North East Regional Competition will advance to the national stage of IndiaSkills Competition 2025–26, contributing to India’s growing pipeline of skilled talent for global opportunities.