Bhubaneswar, Sept. 1: The Odisha government has directed universities, engineering colleges, ITIs, polytechnics and district skill development authorities to intensify awareness campaigns and encourage greater participation in the Odisha Skills Competition 2026-27, with registrations open until September 15.
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In a communication to educational and technical institutions, Skill Development and Technical Education Department Commissioner-cum-Secretary Bhupendra Singh Poonia urged stakeholders to mobilise eligible students and youth to take part in the state-level competition, which features 63 skill categories.
The competition is designed to identify and nurture skilled talent across diverse trades and disciplines, creating a pathway for participants to compete at the national and international levels. Winners from the state competition will qualify for the IndiaSkills Competition, with top performers eventually getting an opportunity to represent India at the WorldSkills Competition 2028.
The department has asked institutions to actively promote the competition through official communication channels and guide students in selecting skill categories that align with their academic qualifications, technical training, interests and competencies.
To strengthen the outreach effort, colleges and training institutes have been advised to involve heads of departments, faculty members and trainers in mentoring prospective participants throughout the registration process.
The government has also instructed every institution to appoint a Single Point of Contact (SPOC) to coordinate awareness drives, student mobilisation and registration support for aspiring contestants.
Along with the advisory, the department has shared the IndiaSkills Competition Guidelines and the Synopsis of Odisha Skills to help institutions understand eligibility criteria and identify suitable categories for participants.
Officials said coordinated efforts across educational and training institutions would help expand participation and showcase Odisha’s skilled youth on national and global platforms.