On Thursday, Jayant Chaudhary, Minister of State for the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and the Ministry of Education, honored the winners of the WorldSkills 2024 competition, recently held in Lyon, France. During the event, he expressed his admiration for the Medal and Medallion of Excellence winners from Team India, stating, “They have displayed tremendous confidence and have become inspiring icons for the nation. India’s performance in Lyon, with 16 accolades including four bronze medals, marks a significant step toward our goal of becoming the skill capital of the world.”
Chaudhary emphasized that these achievements reflect not only the dedication of the winners but also the strength of India’s skilling ecosystem, under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He noted the importance of India’s expanding expertise in both traditional crafts and emerging industries, which positions the country as a rising global leader.
The Minister also took the opportunity to honor eight Paralympic winners: Praveen Kumar, Ajit Singh Yadav, Sharad Kumar, Pranav Soorma, Simran Sharma, Rubina Francis, Rakesh Kumar, and Preethi Pal, who attended the ceremony. Preethi Pal, the NSDC brand ambassador, made history by winning India’s first para-athletics medal at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris.
Recognizing the achievements of the Paralympic team, which secured 29 medals, Chaudhary remarked, “Hard work is the key to overcoming challenges. The extraordinary achievements of the Paralympic team embody this spirit.”
India’s notable success at the WorldSkills competition included four bronze medals in Patisserie and Confectionery, Industry 4.0, Hotel Reception, and Renewable Energy. The bronze medalists were Ashwitha Police, Dhrumil Kumar Dhirendra Kumar Gandhi, Sathyajith Balakrishnan, Joethir Adithya Krishnapriya Ravikumar, and Amaresh Kumar Sahu. Additionally, India earned 12 Medallions of Excellence, demonstrating the country’s skill and innovation across various trades.
Chaudhary awarded cash prizes of Rs. 6 lakhs to each of the four bronze medalists and Rs. 2 lakhs each to the experts who trained them. Another Rs. 2 lakhs was awarded to the 12 Medallion winners, and Rs. 1 lakh each went to the industry experts who helped prepare them for the competition.
Reflecting on the WorldSkills competition, Chaudhary stated, “The level of skill and competition was truly world-class. The Indian team remained calm and focused, delivering outstanding performances. Their achievements reflect the hard work and resilience they brought to the global stage.”
Ved Mani Tiwari, CEO of the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), highlighted India’s 13th rank globally, noting participation in 52 out of over 60 skills. He emphasized the crucial role industry experts from organizations like Suzuki, Exalta, and NTTF played in preparing the participants.
Looking to the future, Tiwari reiterated the commitment to strengthening the training process for WorldSkills, ensuring that youth are better prepared for upcoming competitions and equipped to consistently perform at the highest levels.
