IndiaSkills 2026 Hospitality Regional Competitions Underway in Bhubaneswar

The Tourism & Hospitality Skill Council (THSC) is currently hosting the IndiaSkills 2026 – Regional Competitions for Hospitality Skills, which commenced on 2 February 2026 and will continue until 14 February 2026 at C V Raman Global University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha. The competitions, organised across four zones—North, South, East, and West—form a key component of the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE)’s flagship IndiaSkills 2025–26 programme. The initiative aims to showcase India’s finest young talent across five core hospitality skill categories: Bakery, Cooking, Restaurant Services, Patisserie & Confectionery, and Hotel Reception.

Competitors from across the country are participating after qualifying through a rigorous multi-stage selection process. This included an MCQ-based knowledge assessment followed by physical skill trials. Based on merit and performance, top candidates have been shortlisted to compete at the regional level across the five hospitality skills. Participating states and regions include:

• East Region: Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal, Daman and Diu & Dadra Nagar Haveli
• West Region: Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Goa, Rajasthan
• North Region: Chandigarh, Delhi, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh
• South Region: Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Kerala, Lakshadweep, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry

IndiaSkills 2026 serves as India’s official pathway to the prestigious WorldSkills Competition, the world’s largest skills showcase, often referred to as the “Olympics of Skills.” Successful competitors from IndiaSkills progress through structured training and national-level competitions to earn the honour of representing India on the global stage.

India’s consistent performance at WorldSkills reflects the growing strength and global competitiveness of the hospitality sector within the IndiaSkills ecosystem. Over the years, Indian hospitality competitors have secured a Silver Medal and a Medallion in 2017, two Medallions in 2019, two Medals and two Medallions in 2022, and most recently two Bronze Medals and one Medallion at WorldSkills 2024. These achievements highlight the impact of structured training, expert mentorship, and strong industry collaboration.

“A successful career is built on a strong foundation. The right training can truly take young professionals places. IndiaSkills is not merely a competition; it is an opportunity for aspiring hospitality professionals to understand modern techniques and global hotel practices while mastering the basics. This platform continues to recognise and nurture emerging talent who will define the future of the hospitality industry. Through enhanced education and large-scale industry-focused initiatives, we strive to set new benchmarks for excellence.”

Rajan Bahadur, CEO, Tourism & Hospitality Skill Council,

The primary objective of the IndiaSkills Hospitality Competitions is to identify high-potential talent and provide them with structured training and mentorship from a panel of experts drawn from leading colleges, academies, institutes, and the hospitality industry. The top three winners in each skill category will undergo advanced training and compete in two additional physical rounds, from which one finalist per skill will be selected to represent India at WorldSkills Shanghai, China.

The IndiaSkills 2026 Hospitality Competitions offer a unique national platform for aspiring professionals to demonstrate technical expertise, creativity, and service excellence. Participants are being evaluated by a distinguished jury of industry experts, ensuring a transparent, rigorous, and globally benchmarked assessment process.