The student’s Institute/College/University will be required to provide signed proof of student matriculation and a signed statement by the student confirming their full-time status will need to be submitted at the time of registration. A photograph (head and shoulders) of the student will also need to be submitted with the application. A student on a post graduate programme is not eligible to enter the competition.

There is no participation fee for Young Chef India, registration is free for each student,provided the contestant is a citizen of India.

The last date for registration is 6th October, 2024, 11:59 pm (IST), after which the registration window will be closed.

You need to upload - One Passport-size digital photograph of the participant (<2MB) High-resolution digital picture of the dish (<2MB) Youtube link of a video recording the recipe and process of the dish preparation College ID ( clearly showing your Name, Year of Study, Name of the College and programme that you are enrolled for) or Bona Fide certificate from your college (Your Name, Year of Study, Name of the College and programme, that you are enrolled for. The certificate has to be duly signed by an authorized representative of the institute). For more information,visit our website registration page.

There will be three stages of the competition Preliminary Round Qualifier Round Final Round (Stage 1: Knife skills, Stage 2: Cooking chicken with ingredients from a mystery basket)

Participants will be judged on creativity, recipe details, nutritional analysis, presentation, taste, hygiene, technical skills, and time management.

Yes, provided you are enrolled in a full-time certificate/diploma or undergraduate program in hospitality or culinary arts from a recognized institution; OR be a registered Chef Apprentice studying on a regular weekly basis at a College or University on a recognised National Professional Crafts programme in the Country being represented. You must be aged between 18 and 24 on the 1st of February 2025.

The preliminary round requires an “innovative” main course Pan-Indian dish for 02 (TWO) people and appropriate for service in a fine dining restaurant.

For the Qualifier Round, participants must submit a complete list of ingredients and quantities required for four portions at least two weeks before the competition day via a designated drive. For the Final Round, all the ingredients will be provided by IIHM, the organiser of both Young Chef India and International Young Chef Olympiad.

For the Preliminary round,there is no time limit, participants will have to submit their entry in designated format as discussed in competition details.

The Qualifier Round is one and a half hours or 90 minutes. The Final Round is in two stages - Stage 1: Knife Skills - 30 Minutes Stage 2: Cooking - 1.5 hours or 90 minutes

Training will be provided to the winner and runner-up of Young Chef India, who will be trained for over a month in Kolkata under the guidance of the IIHM chefs before representing India at International Young Chef Olympiad.

The winner and runner-up will receive the national acclaim of representing India at the International Young Chef Olympiad, they will receive a month-long professional training from the IIHM chefs, along with accommodation and daily subsistence covered during their training in Kolkata.

For the Preliminary round, the best 40 participants will be invited to participate in the Qualifier Round, a Regional Showdown to prepare, cook and serve the same dish in front of a panel of judges, at the IIHM campuses across India. Out of these,only 8 competitors will be selected to participate in the Final Round of Young Chef India in Kolkata. Winners will be announced after the Final Round of competition, when each of the Finalists will successfully complete both the stages of the final round. The Winner and the first runner-up will be selected as winners and will be trained in Kolkata for over a month to represent India in the International Young Chef Olympiad.

The winner of the IIHM Young Chef Olympiad gains international fame and recognition, showcasing their culinary talent on a global stage in front of celebrity judges and industry leaders. With over 60 countries participating, it is the largest culinary Olympiad for student chefs, offering unique opportunities for networking, global exposure, and career advancement. Moreover, YCO’s commitment to sustainability and youth diplomacy provides winners with a platform to contribute to global causes like the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, amplifying their role as ambassadors for responsible gastronomy and cultural exchange.