PHDCCI launches National Young Chef Competition with grand Curtain Raiser in New Delhi
PHDCCI in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism, Indian Federation of Culinary Associations (IFCA) and Tourism & Hospitality Skill Council (THSC), launched the National Young Chef Competition (NYCC), a flagship initiative aimed at discovering and nurturing final-year hospitality students across India through a high-impact culinary championship. The Curtain Raiser Press Conference, held on 15 July 2025 at PHD House, New Delhi, was graced by Mr. Suman Billa (IAS), Additional Secretary and Director General, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, who attended as Chief Guest.
In his keynote address, Mr. Suman Billa emphasized the importance of creating career pathways for youth in hospitality. He commended PHDCCI for curating a platform that not only celebrates culinary excellence, but also strengthens industry-academia collaboration.
The event also saw the presence of Mr. Rajan Sehgal, Co-Chair – Tourism Committee, PHDCCI; Chef Manjit Gill, President, IFCA; Chef Sudhir Sibal, Founder Member, IFCA; Chef Anil Grover, Certified World Chefs Judge; Mr. Rajan Bahadur, CEO, Tourism & Hospitality Skill Council; Prof. Kamal Kant Pant, Principal, IHM Pusa; and Mr. Amarjit Singh Ahuja, Director – Procurement, Le Meridien New Delhi.
A detailed presentation outlining the competition format and national roadmap was delivered by Ms. Shalini S Sharma, Assistant Secretary General, PHDCCI.
Held under the theme ‘Celebrating Indian Culinary Heritage: Blending Tradition with Innovation’, the competition will be conducted through four zonal rounds across the country, culminating in a Grand Finale in January 2026 at IHM Pusa, New Delhi.
Zonal Round Schedule:
In addition to the student competition, PHDCCI also announced career-sensitization workshops for Class 11 and 12 students, to be held alongside each zonal round. These workshops are designed to expose school students to real-world hospitality careers and build early awareness at a time when hospitality institutes across India are facing a decline in enrolment.
NYCC is supported by a strong consortium of leading brands and institutions including Venus Industries Ltd; Nestle Professional; Cremica Food Industries Ltd; Hospitality & Kitchen Solutions (HAKS); Wagh Bakri Tea Group; McCain Foods; Mann Fleet Partners; Purchasing Professional Forum – India (PPFI); and Hospitality Purchasing Managers Forum (HPMF).