India finished 10th at the 48th WorldSkills Competition in Shanghai, its first-ever place in the global top 10. A Press Information Bureau release on September 27 confirmed the result: six silver medals and 20 Medals for Excellence from a 70-member national contingent.

India competed in 63 of the 64 skill categories at the event, which ran from September 22 to 27 and featured more than 1,400 competitors from about 70 countries. The silver medals went to Smriti Nambiar (Bakery), Mohammed Salam (Dental Prosthetics), Kovid Ajay Gangrade (Digital Interactive Media Design), Parth Vohra (Industrial Design Technology), Mehrunissa Begum (Logistics and Freight Forwarding) and Saniya Joshi (Retail Sales).

The result improves on 13th place at Lyon 2024, where India won four bronze medals. Three of this year’s silvers came in categories where India debuted. Nambiar was also named India’s Best of Nation.

The 15-year climb from 39th place at London 2011 reflects steady investment in vocational training by the National Skill Development Corporation and the skill development ministry.