From orphan to national topper!

Himachal Pradesh has added yet another feather to its cap — this time in the field of skill development. Two of its Industrial Training Institute (ITI) trainees have conquered the national stage by clinching the top ranks in the All India Trade Test (AITT)–2025, conducted by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.

Naveen Sharma, a trainee of Government ITI (Grade-A), Mandi, has emerged as the national topper in the Surveyor trade with a remarkable score of 99.25%, setting a new benchmark for excellence. Hailing from Palampur, Naveen’s story is one of courage, perseverance and grit. A beneficiary of the Chief Minister’s Sukhashray Yojana, he was adopted by the Government of Himachal Pradesh in 2023 under the “Children of the State” initiative, which supports orphans and vulnerable children.

Orphaned at a young age, Naveen drew strength from his maternal uncle Satish Sharma, who encouraged his educational journey. The government’s monthly allowance of Rs 4,000 under the scheme helped him continue his studies and training in the Surveyor trade (2023–25) at ITI Mandi.

Earlier this year, he secured the first position at the State-Level Skill Competition held on May 7–8. For this achievement, Technical Education Minister Rajesh Dharmani honoured him with a gold medal, certificate of merit and a cash award of Rs 5,100 at the state convocation ceremony in Sundernagar on September 17.

Continuing his learning journey, Naveen is currently pursuing advanced training under the Craft Instructor Training Scheme (CITS) at NSTI, Kolkata, to further sharpen his professional edge.

Equally inspiring is Jatin Dogra from Government ITI (PWD), Sundernagar, who topped the nation in the Computer Operator and Programming Assistant (COPA–VI) trade. His consistent excellence earned him the Best Trainee Award at the national level, a rare honour that recognises both technical mastery and discipline.

Both Naveen and Jatin were felicitated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the National Skill Convocation Ceremony held at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, for their stellar performance and contribution to the vision of a skilled India.

Ravinder Singh, Principal of ITI-Mandi, praised Naveen and instructor Dinesh Sharma, noting that their dedication “sets a benchmark for trainees across Himachal.” He added that trainees scoring above 70% marks with over 95% attendance are eligible for a state incentive of Rs 5,100, encouraging excellence in technical education.

Director of Technical Education Akshay Sood lauded the achievement as “a reflection of Himachal’s growing strength in skill-based education.” These young achievers have proved that with the right support and determination, talent from the hills can truly rise to national heights.