Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Government has urged universities, engineering colleges, ITIs, polytechnics and district skill development authorities to step up efforts to ensure wider participation of students and youth in the Odisha Skills Competition 2026-27.
In a letter issued by the Skill Development and Technical Education Department, Commissioner-cum-Secretary Bhupendra Singh Poonia asked educational and technical institutions to create awareness about the state-level competition and encourage eligible candidates to register.
Registration for the competition is currently open across 63 skill categories, with the deadline for enrolment set for September 15, 2026.
The Odisha Skills Competition serves as a state-level platform to identify and promote talented youth in diverse skill areas. Successful participants will get an opportunity to progress to the IndiaSkills Competition and may subsequently represent India at the WorldSkills Competition 2028.
The department has asked institutions to promote the competition through official and institutional channels and encourage students, trainees and other eligible youth to participate in skill categories matching their academic backgrounds, technical qualifications, interests and competencies.
Institutions have also been advised to assist candidates in selecting suitable skill categories and involve heads of departments, faculty members, trainers and other concerned officials in guiding and motivating prospective participants.
The department has further directed institutions to nominate a nodal person or Single Point of Contact (SPOC) to coordinate awareness campaigns, mobilisation and facilitation for interested candidates.
The IndiaSkills Competition Guidelines and Synopsis of Odisha Skills have been enclosed with the communication to help institutions identify appropriate skill categories and understand the eligibility requirements.
The department said coordinated efforts across the state would help maximise participation and identify some of Odisha’s most promising skilled youth for upcoming national and international competitions.
