Government, industry and academia join hands to prepare India’s largest contingent for the global skills competition for Persons with Disabilities.
Mumbai, July 3, 2026: India formally launched its preparations for the 11th International Abilympics Finland 2027 as Hon’ble Maharashtra Governor Shri Jishnu Dev Varma inaugurated Sarthak Educational Trust’s 18th Foundation Day and Pre International Assessments at the World Trade Center in Mumbai.
Organised by Sarthak Educational Trust in collaboration with the National Abilympic Association of India (NAAI), the event marked the beginning of India’s campaign to field its largest ever contingent at the International Abilympics, widely recognised as the global work skills competition for Persons with Disabilities.
Supported by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Tata Power Community Development Trust, Honda India Foundation, Pay Autention and World Trade Center Mumbai, the programme brought together policymakers, industry leaders, academia, corporate CSR heads and disability advocates to strengthen India’s disability skilling, employment and inclusion ecosystem.
Addressing the gathering, Governor Shri Jishnu Dev Varma highlighted the need to create equal opportunities for Persons with Disabilities as India advances towards Viksit Bharat.
“India’s disability census currently records 2.68 crore Persons with Disabilities, though the actual number may be much higher. Maharashtra alone has nearly 30 lakh Persons with Disabilities, making inclusion our collective responsibility. As we move towards Viksit Bharat, we must build an ecosystem that enables every Person with Disability to realise their full potential. Technology and Artificial Intelligence must be used with justice, compassion and vision to create a more inclusive future,” he said.
The launch builds on India’s strongest performance at the 10th International Abilympics held in Metz, France, where the national team secured one gold, two silver, three bronze medals and a Certificate of Excellence.
For the Finland edition, competitors are undergoing assessments and training across 28 internationally recognised vocational skill categories, including information technology, hospitality, creative arts, crafts, manufacturing and service trades.
A major attraction during the programme was the National Abilympics Skill Exhibition, where 30 National Abilympics champions demonstrated their expertise in photography, bakery, hospitality, tailoring, painting, design, digital technologies and several vocational disciplines, highlighting how skill development creates pathways to dignified employment and economic independence.
The event also hosted leadership discussions involving representatives from Amazon, Tata Power Community Development Trust, Deutsche Bank, Mahindra and Mahindra, Union Bank of India, Startek, Sutherland Global, IIT Bombay SINE and World Trade Center Mumbai. The discussions focused on inclusive hiring, future skills, technology, policy and partnerships needed to strengthen employment opportunities for Persons with Disabilities.
A recurring theme across the sessions was the future of work, with speakers emphasising that while Artificial Intelligence, automation and robotics are transforming industries, continuous skilling will remain the key to ensuring inclusive employment. Participants stressed the importance of stronger collaboration between government, educational institutions and industry to prepare Persons with Disabilities for emerging job roles.
Rajiv Taneja, CSR Head, Honda India Foundation, said the next phase of disability inclusion must focus on preparing people for future industries through specialised training programmes.
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