CBSE Skill Expo and Guidance Festival 2026–27 hosted at St. Edward’s School, Shimla

Shimla, 25 August 2026: St. Edward’s School, Shimla, hosted the CBSE Skill Expo and Guidance Festival 2026–27, bringing together distinguished educationists, experts, industry professionals and students to celebrate skill education, innovation, creativity and emerging career opportunities.

The inaugural ceremony was graced by DGP Mr. Ashok Tiwari and DIG Ms. Anjum Ara as the Chief Guests. The distinguished Guests of Honour included

Dr. Biswajit Saha, Professor and Director, Department of Skill Education, CBSE; Mr. Satish Pahal, Joint Director, Department of Skill Education, CBSE, New Delhi; Dr. Gaurav Kapoor, Expert in Skill Development, Delhi; Dr. Shakti Arora, Cyber Expert, Panipat; and Ms. Karishma Gupta, Territory Manager, Turnitin, Delhi.

The programme commenced with a warm welcome to the dignitaries, followed by the lighting of the ceremonial lamp, symbolising the illumination of knowledge, opportunity and innovation. Rev. Fr. Henry Joseph Raj, Principal, St. Edward’s School, formally welcomed the guests and introduced the vision and objectives of the event.

Addressing the gathering, DGP Mr. Ashok Tiwari highlighted the importance of equipping young people with practical skills, adaptability and responsible use of technology. His address encouraged students to look beyond conventional career pathways and develop the confidence to explore emerging opportunities.

The dignitaries were subsequently felicitated by the Principal, Rev. Fr. Henry Joseph Raj and the School Manager, Fr. J. Dexen, in recognition of their valuable contribution to skill education and career guidance.

The CBSE Skill Expo 2026–27 provides students with a platform to showcase vocational skills, creativity, innovation and problem-solving abilities through experiential learning. This year’s Expo focused on seven contemporary and future-oriented themes: Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming and Comics; Environment and Sustainability; Health and Wellness; Entrepreneurship and Financial Literacy; Tourism and Hospitality; Agriculture and Rural Development and Media, Design and Communication.

Students from twenty five schools presented projects based on these themes.Adding academic and professional depth to the Expo, the project presentations were evaluated by an eminent Expert Jury Panel comprising Ms. Payal Khanna, Award-Winning Coach and Author; Mr. Dhruv Bragta, Vice President and Cluster Head, HDFC Bank; Mr. Kunal Singh Chauhan, Co-Founder- Progressive Growers Association; and Dr. Digvijay Singh Thakur, Neurosurgeon, IGMC. Their expert assessment provided students with valuable professional feedback and recognition of the creativity, relevance, innovation and practical application demonstrated through their projects.

The Guidance Festival complemented the Expo by providing students with exposure to emerging career opportunities and the essential skills required to succeed in a rapidly evolving world. Through interaction with experts and professionals, students gained valuable insights into career pathways, industry expectations, technology and the skills of the future.

The hosting of the event at St. Edward’s School reflects the institution’s commitment to providing students with meaningful platforms to discover their potential, develop practical competencies and connect classroom learning with the opportunities and challenges of the real world.