The Jammu & Kashmir Skill Development Mission (JKSDM) has officially kicked off the State Level Competitions under India Skills Competitions 2025-26, marking a major step toward promoting a strong skill development ecosystem across the Union Territory.
The first competitions commenced on Monday at Institute of Technology, University of Kashmir for Kashmir Division and Industrial Training Institute, Jammu for Jammu Division.
This year, the Mission received an overwhelming response with 1500 registrations from enthusiastic youth across J&K. After a rigorous screening process, 265 skilled candidates have been shortlisted to compete at the state level in 28 diverse skill categories.
Winners from the state-level events will advance to the Regional Level Competitions, where they will represent the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir.
The competitions are being conducted at premier institutions across J&K, including IIT Jammu, NIFT Srinagar, IHM Srinagar, Central University of Jammu, Government Medical College, Srinagar, NIT Srinagar and Government Polytechnic College, Jammu.
Speaking on the occasion, JKSDM officials highlighted that the initiative aims to empower the skilled youth of J&K, remove the stigma associated with blue-collar professions, and glamourize skill-based careers in line with national objectives.
J&K has shown remarkable performance in recent years, securing 13 medals at the National Level India Skills Competitions 2023-24, including 3 Gold Medals.
These Gold Medalists went on to represent India at the prestigious World Skills Competition 2024 in Lyon, France, bringing pride to the Union Territory.
The India Skills Competitions serve as a platform to showcase talent, build confidence, and connect youth with national and global opportunities in the skill sector.
