PHDCCI unveils National Young Chef Competition

With participation from over 130 hospitality institutions, the event is supported by leading partners including Venus Industries, Nestlé Professional, Wagh Bakri Tea Group, Cremica, McCain Foods etc

The PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI), in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, officially launched the National Young Chef Competition (NYCC) with a grand curtain raiser event at PHD House, New Delhi. The initiative aims to discover, mentor, and showcase the finest culinary talent among final-year hospitality students across the nation.

Gracing the occasion as Chief Guest, Suman Billa, Additional Secretary and Director General, Ministry of Tourism, emphasised the need to preserve India’s fading culinary traditions. “Our culinary heritage is built on cultural memory and regional techniques. We must reinforce these traditions and also expand India’s footprint in the global fine dining space,” he said, urging young chefs to think creatively and represent India with confidence on the international gastronomic stage.

NYCC, a collaborative effort with the Indian Federation of Culinary Associations (IFCA) and the Tourism & Hospitality Skill Council (THSC), is themed “Celebrating Indian Culinary Heritage: Blending Tradition with Innovation”. It features zonal competitions across India culminating in a grand finale at IHM Pusa, New Delhi, in January 2026.

Zonal Round Schedule:

•           North Zone: 6 August 2025, AIHM Chandigarh

•           East Zone: 18 September 2025, IHM Kolkata

•           West Zone: November 2025, IHM Mumbai

•           South Zone: 18 December 2025, IHM Kovalam

Apart from the main competition, NYCC will conduct career sensitisation workshops for Class 11 and 12 students at each zonal venue, addressing declining enrolment in hospitality education and introducing students to real-world culinary careers.

Rajan Sehgal, Co-Chair, Tourism Committee, PHDCCI, called NYCC a ‘movement that unites industry, education, and youth to celebrate Indian gastronomy. Dr Chef Manjit Gill, President, IFCA, added, “NYCC is not just a contest, but a cultural revival. It’s a call to preserve and modernise India’s diverse food legacy.”

Other dignitaries present included Chef Sudhir Sibal, Chef Anil Grover, Rajan Bahadur (THSC), Prof Kamal Kant Pant (IHM Pusa), Amarjit Singh Ahuja (Le Meridien), and Shalini S Sharma of PHDCCI, who presented the detailed roadmap of the competition.

With participation from over 130 hospitality institutions, the event is supported by leading partners including Venus Industries, Nestlé Professional, Wagh Bakri Tea Group, Cremica, McCain Foods, and many others.