HT Bureau
GUWAHATI, Jan 19: Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Minister of State for Education, Jayant Chaudhary, on Monday underscored the Central government’s priority for the development of the North East, with a strong focus on integrating skilling with formal education to create wider employment opportunities for youth.
Chaudhary was speaking after inaugurating the IndiaSkills Regional Competition 2025–26 for the North East in Guwahati, where young participants from all eight northeastern states are competing across 26 skill categories.
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Highlighting Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s sustained emphasis on the region, the minister said this focus has generated renewed confidence and opportunities for the youth of the North East.
“IndiaSkills is not merely a competition; it is a celebration of excellence, discipline and the dignity of work. The North East has immense talent and aspiration, and this platform reflects our confidence that youth from this region are ready to lead India’s skilled workforce and contribute meaningfully to the nation’s growth,” he said.
The minister emphasised the importance of aligning skilling with formal education in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, noting that closer integration would expand pathways for employability, entrepreneurship and lifelong learning, while preparing young people for a rapidly evolving economy.
The North East Regional Competition, brought to the region for the first time by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) with the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) as its implementation partner, has drawn 162 competitors.
Students from Directorate General of Training (DGT) institutions, including Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) and National Skill Training Institutes (NSTIs), are participating, showcasing the growing convergence of vocational education with national-level competitive platforms.
The competition covers a wide spectrum of skills, ranging from Automobile Technology, Cloud Computing, Mobile Applications Development and Software and Web Technologies to Fashion Technology, Bakery and Patisserie, and Visual Merchandising.
Following a multi-tier evaluation process, top regional performers will qualify for the IndiaSkills National Competition, with select winners earning the chance to represent India at the WorldSkills Competition in Shanghai in September.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by Nani Gopal Mahanta, Vice-Chancellor of Gauhati University; Gyanendra Dev Tripathi, Principal Secretary to the Government of Assam, Skill, Employment and Entrepreneurship Department; and Hena Usman, Joint Secretary, MSDE, among others.
Earlier in the day, the Union Minister undertook a day-long visit to Goalpara district in West Assam.
He inspected a composite farm at the District Industries and Commerce Centre, where ornamental fish, various bird species for commercial purposes, and modern poultry units for ducks and hens are being reared.
Expressing satisfaction with the project’s management, Chaudhary emphasised the need to expand it on a larger scale to benefit more people.
He also interacted with teachers and students at the Industrial Training Institute (ITI) in Goalpara, with particular focus on the Tata Technologies component and the ultra-modern training being imparted in vehicle technology.
The minister later chaired a review meeting on the progress of Aspirational District programmes at the Deputy Commissioner’s conference hall and suggested expediting their implementation.
Goalpara Deputy Commissioner Prodip Timung and other senior officials accompanied the minister during his visit. (With inputs from PTI)
