Tamil Nadu Awards ₹49 Lakh Incentives to WorldSkills Competition Participants

The Tamil Nadu Government has awarded incentive cheques worth ₹49 lakh to 12 participants from the state who took part in the WorldSkills Competition held in Shanghai, China. The recognition includes a silver medallist, four participants who won Medals for Excellence, and seven others who represented India at the international event.

According to the state government’s press release dated October 27, 2026, the incentive cheques were presented by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay to recognise the participants’ achievements and encourage young people to develop their technical and vocational skills.

India Secures 10th Place at WorldSkills Competition

The 48th WorldSkills Competition was held in Shanghai, China, with participation from 68 countries. India secured 10th place after winning six silver medals and 20 Medals for Excellence.

The Indian team comprised 70 participants competing across 63 skill categories, including 12 contestants from Tamil Nadu. Five participants from the state received international medals.

Tamil Nadu Medal Winners and Incentives

J. Mohamed Salam won a silver medal in Dental Prosthetics. Four other participants received Medals for Excellence in their respective skill categories.

The incentive amounts announced for the Tamil Nadu participants are as follows:

The silver medallist received ₹15 lakh, while each of the four Medal for Excellence recipients received ₹5 lakh. The remaining seven participants were awarded ₹2 lakh each, bringing the total incentive amount to ₹49 lakh.

Who Can Participate in WorldSkills Competitions?

WorldSkills competitions are international events held once every two years to showcase technical and vocational skills. According to the government release, eligible participants generally include students and working young pepeople aged 16 to 23.

Those studying in schools, arts and science colleges, engineering colleges, polytechnic institutions, industrial training institutes, hotel management courses, and medical and allied health programmes may be eligible, subject to the applicable competition rules.

How to Qualify for WorldSkills Competitions in Tamil Nadu

Candidates from Tamil Nadu must progress through a series of selection stages to reach the international competition. The process includes:

1. Winning at the relevant Tamil Nadu state-level skill competitions.

2. Qualifying through the South Regional skill competitions.

3. Securing selection through the national-level skill competitions.

School headmasters and college principals have been encouraged to create awareness about these opportunities and motivate more students to participate.

WorldSkills Competition Enquiries

For details about skill competitions and participation, interested candidates can contact the Tamil Nadu Skill Development Corporation at the following helpline numbers:

- 9962220527

- 9962220528

Official website: https://www.skilldevelopment.tn.gov.in/tnskills/

The state government said the achievements of the Tamil Nadu participants highlight the importance of vocational training and skill development in preparing young people for international opportunities.