Maharashtra Celebrates World Youth Skills Day

Maharashtra celebrated World Youth Skills Day with a special programme at the Central Hall of Elphinstone Technical High School, Fort, Mumbai. The programme was presided over by Minister for Skill Development, Employment, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Shri Mangal Prabhat Lodha.

The Department of Skill Development, Employment, Entrepreneurship and Innovation organised the event, which saw the launch of several key initiatives aimed at strengthening skill development in the State. One of the key initiatives launched was the DAKSH teacher training programme, which will provide training to 240 instructors in modern technologies covering trades such as Advanced Manufacturing, Electric Vehicles, and CNC Machining.

The DAKSH project, supported by the World Bank, aims to provide instructor training in vocational trades across Government Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) in Maharashtra. Leading industries, including Mahindra & Mahindra and Larsen & Toubro, have extended their support to this training initiative.

To promote industry-oriented skill development, the Society for Entrepreneurship Education and Innovation Development (SEEID) signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with several companies, including 2 COMS Consulting Private Limited, Border Plus Technology Private Limited, and Quess International Services Private Limited. These partnerships will provide comprehensive support for students seeking employment opportunities both within India and abroad.

In preparation for the forthcoming Simhastha Kumbh Mela, a Letter of Intent (LoI) was presented to Sahyadri Rural Development Foundation, Nashik for implementing Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) for 4,000 candidates and short-term skill training for 300 candidates. The initiative will help create a skilled workforce for the hospitality, retail, automobile, construction, healthcare, and tourism sectors.

The event also saw the felicitation of five national-level winners from Maharashtra, who were selected to represent India at WorldSkills Shanghai 2026. Minister Shri Mangal Prabhat Lodha announced that Maharashtra’s participants winning a Gold Medal at the WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 competition would receive a cash prize of ₹5 lakh, Silver Medal winners would receive ₹3 lakh, and Bronze Medal winners would receive ₹2 lakh.

Eleven trainees from the Internet of Things (IoT) course at Bharat Ratna Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Government Industrial Training Institute, Mumbai-1, who secured employment during the course of their training, were also felicitated. Additionally, two training institutions were issued Letters of Intent under the Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Skill Training Centre Scheme.

The World Youth Skills Day celebrations in Maharashtra aimed to promote skill development and provide opportunities for young people to acquire skills and knowledge that can help them secure employment and become entrepreneurs. The event highlighted the importance of skill development in the State and the efforts being made to provide young people with the skills and training they need to succeed.

The initiatives launched on World Youth Skills Day are expected to have a positive impact on the skill development landscape in Maharashtra, providing young people with access to training and employment opportunities that can help them build successful careers. With the support of industry partners and the government, Maharashtra is well on its way to becoming a hub for skill development and entrepreneurship.

In conclusion, the World Youth Skills Day celebrations in Maharashtra were a success, with the launch of several key initiatives and the felicitation of young people who have acquired skills and secured employment. The event highlighted the importance of skill development and the efforts being made to provide young people with the skills and training they need to succeed.