Sri Vijaya Puram | March 4, 2026
The youth of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands delivered an outstanding performance at the IndiaSkills Regional Competition (East) held in Bhubaneswar from February 27, 2026 onwards, securing a total of 13 medals and showcasing the growing strength of vocational training in the Islands.
Competing against talented participants from across Eastern India, Team Andaman & Nicobar Islands displayed remarkable technical proficiency, creativity, discipline and competitive spirit in both onsite and offsite skill events. The team, comprising 48 competitors across various trades, participated with dedication, professional confidence and exemplary teamwork. The strategic guidance and structured training ecosystem of the Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) played a crucial role in the team’s success.
The team secured four Gold Medals, five Silver Medals and four Medallions of Excellence, achieving a total medal tally of 13. This performance marks one of the most commendable showings by the Andaman and Nicobar Islands at the regional skill competition level and highlights the Union Territory’s emergence as a growing hub of skill excellence in the eastern region of the country.
Among the Gold medal winners were Amitav Mistry in Carpentry, B. Devindhar and Saalim Khan in Concrete Construction Works, and Raj Biswas in Plastering & Drywall Systems. Silver medals were secured by Shubham Parmaniya in Carpentry, Sharmistha Roy in Fashion Technology, Sneha Mondal and Rohinee Lakra in Landscape & Gardening, and K. Abdul Fathah in Plastering & Drywall Systems.
Medallions of Excellence were awarded to Rohit Kujur in Cabinet Making, Nitesh Mistry in Electrical Installation, Bishal Biswas in Cooking, and Divakar Karmakar in Welding.
The Gold and Silver medallists are now likely to represent the Andaman & Nicobar Islands at the forthcoming IndiaSkills National Competition scheduled towards the end of March 2026. In addition, the Union Territory team received a walkover in the skills of Visual Merchandising and Intelligent Security Technology, allowing the UT skill competitors in these categories to directly compete at the national-level competition.
Winners at the national competition will earn the prestigious opportunity to represent India at the WorldSkills Competition scheduled to be held in September 2026 at Shanghai, China, where the finest skilled youth from across the world compete for excellence.
The contingent from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands was led by Mr. Venketesh Ch., Principal ITI and Deputy Apprenticeship Advisor, along with Mr. Prabhu Raj, Vocational Instructor, and Ms. Anisha Ahmed, Trainer from ITI Dollygunj.
The achievement is being seen as a strong and inspiring message for the aspirational youth of the Islands, highlighting that skill development and vocational training are dynamic, industry-driven and globally recognized career pathways that can lead to employment, entrepreneurship and international exposure.
Students, school leavers and job aspirants have been encouraged to actively enroll in Industrial Training Institutes, apprenticeship programmes and other structured vocational training schemes to build industry-relevant competencies. The Administration has reiterated its commitment to strengthening the skill ecosystem and creating sustainable livelihood opportunities through technical education and workforce development.
Officials noted that the performance at the IndiaSkills Regional (East) Competition 2025–26 is not merely a medal tally but an important milestone in the journey towards building a skilled, self-reliant and globally competitive Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
