Agra/Leh, Mar 13: The Union Territory of Ladakh marked its presence at the IndiaSkills Regional Competition (North) 2025–26 in Agra with a notable moment during the inaugural ceremony, where a representative from Ladakh led the oath on behalf of all competitors from the Northern Region.
The regional competition, being held from March 11 to 14, has drawn participants from nine states and union territories across Northern India, contesting in 63 skill trades as part of the national skill development platform that identifies talent for higher-level competitions.
Ladakh is represented by six state qualifiers competing in three skill trades—Graphic Designing, Fashion Technology and Beauty Therapy. The participants include Archo Masooma and Fatima Nissa in Graphic Designing, Zarina Bano and Hassina Bano in Fashion Technology, and Masooma and Naziya Kousar in Beauty Therapy.
The IndiaSkills Regional Competition functions as a qualifying stage for the IndiaSkills National Competition, where successful contestants from the regional round will compete for a place on the national stage. Winners at the national level will subsequently represent India at the WorldSkills Competition 2026, scheduled to be held in Shanghai, China.
Officials said the participation of Ladakh’s youth in the regional contest reflects ongoing efforts to expand vocational training and professional skill development in the Union Territory. The initiative has been driven by the Ladakh Skill Development Mission in collaboration with the Department of Higher Education, Ladakh, aimed at preparing young people from the region to compete at national and international platforms.
The UT administration, under the guidance of the Chief Secretary of Ladakh, has been promoting skill-oriented education and training programmes to equip students with industry-relevant capabilities. Authorities believe such initiatives will enable youth to pursue sustainable careers while contributing to the economic growth and enterprise development of the region.
