Raipur, Feb 03: Youth from Chhattisgarh have brought laurels to the state by winning 12 medals and four Medallions for Excellence at the East Zone Regional round of the IndiaSkills Competition 2025–26. The event, organised by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), concluded on 2 March in Bhubaneswar.

Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai congratulated the winners, stating that the state’s youth have demonstrated their capability to compete at global standards. He emphasised that the state government is prioritising skill development through modern training and industry-oriented courses, describing this achievement as a significant step towards a “prosperous Chhattisgarh.”

The regional competition featured more than 200 participants from Odisha, Bihar, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Competing across 59 skill categories, Chhattisgarh’s contingent secured one gold, three silver, and eight bronze medals, alongside the four Medallions for Excellence.

Sunil Kumar Paital clinched the gold medal in Digital Interactive Media. Silver medals were secured by Khushank Nayak (3D Digital Game Art), Pushkar Sonbar (CNC Milling), and Atmaram (CNC Turning). Bronze medals were awarded to Nikhil (CNC Milling), Abhishek Kumar (Electronics), Reshman (Plumbing and Heating), and Satendra Kumar (Web Technology), among others. Medallions for Excellence were conferred upon Nohar Lal Patel (Renewable Energy), Om Banjare (Mechanical Engineering), and Antara Mukherjee (Health and Social Care).

The Chhattisgarh State Skill Development Authority (CSSDA) spearheaded the talent hunt through innovative initiatives like ‘Kaushal Tihar 2025’ and mobile-based screening. A total of 3,327 participants initially competed at the district level, with 38 finalists eventually representing the state at the regional stage in Odisha.

Winners from this regional round will now advance to the national competition. Those selected at the national level will earn the opportunity to represent India at the WorldSkills International competition scheduled to be held in Shanghai, China, in September 2026.