Young Chef India Schools
by International Institute of Hotel Management (IIHM)
National title and a trophy
IIHM's national cooking competition for students in Classes XI and XII, running from home city cook-offs through a zonal final to a national Mega Final. Entry is free.
Mode
In-Person
Fee
Free
Participation format
Individual
Duration
About six months from the home city cook-offs through the zonal finals to the national Mega Final
Eligibility
Open to students enrolled in a school in India in Classes XI and XII. Registration is free and is done online, choosing the YCI category and the state of residence. Cook-offs are held in the student's home city or at the nearest IIHM campus.
- Grade level
- Grade 11 to 12
- Age range
- 16 to 18 years
- Eligibility region
- Available nationwide across India
- Academic requirement
- Enrolled in a school in India in Classes XI and XII.
- Prerequisites
- Enrolled in an Indian school in Classes XI and XII
- Able to travel to the home city or nearest IIHM campus cook-off
- Comfortable cooking unsupervised in a competition kitchen within a time limit
See if your child qualifies.
Rewards and recognition
Prizes
Cash prize, trophy and training
The national winner takes a cash prize and a trophy, and a month of culinary training in Kolkata under IIHM chefs with accommodation and meals covered.
Recognition
National cooking title
Skills your child builds
Key dates
Last edition
- Registration opened
- 1 Sept 2026
How to apply
- 1Register online and select the YCI category for Classes XI and XII, along with the state of residence
- 2Cook in the round held in the student's home city or at the nearest IIHM campus
- 3Go through to the zonal final for the North, East, South or West zone
- 4The top two from each zone cook in the national Mega Final
Rules and guidelines
- A student registers under the YCI category, which is for Classes XI and XII
- Each cook-off must be completed within the time allowed
- Food safety and hygiene are scored and must be followed in every round
- The Mega Final requires two identical plated main courses and two dessert portions from a pre-decided ingredient basket
- The judging panel's decision is final at every round
About this opportunity
Young Chef India Schools is a national cooking competition run by the International Institute of Hotel Management, held every year since 2011. This is the main competition, for students in Classes XI and XII, which registers, competes and is judged on its own. IIHM also runs a separate junior competition for Classes V to X, and a student enters the one that matches their class.
Entry is free, and a student registers online choosing their category and state. The first rounds are cook-offs held in the student's home city or at the nearest IIHM campus, and the country is grouped into four zones covering the North, East, South and West. The ten strongest from each zone meet in a zonal final, and the top two from each zone go through to the national Mega Final.
At the Mega Final a contestant prepares two identical plated main courses with accompaniments and two portions of a dessert, all from a pre-decided ingredient basket, inside 120 minutes. Judges score how well the task is finished in the time given, culinary skill and technique, food safety and hygiene, careful use of ingredients with little waste, professional bearing in the kitchen, and the presentation, taste and flavour of what is served.
The national winner takes a cash prize and a trophy, and a month of culinary training in Kolkata under IIHM chefs with accommodation and meals covered. IIHM runs campuses in Kolkata, Delhi, Pune, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Jaipur and Ahmedabad, and cook-offs are hosted at and around them.
Rounds and format
The competition runs in five rounds across four zones covering the North, East, South and West. The first three are cook-off sessions in the home city or at the nearest IIHM campus. The fourth brings the ten strongest from each zone to a zonal final. The top two from each zone then cook in the national Mega Final.
How entries are judged
Contestants are scored on finishing the assigned task within the time limit, culinary skill and technique, food safety and hygiene, efficient use of ingredients with little waste, professional appearance and attitude in the kitchen, and the presentation, taste and flavour of the dishes served.
Selection process
Contestants move up from the home city or campus cook-offs to the zonal final, where the top ten from each zone compete. The top two from each of the four zones qualify for the national Mega Final, which decides the title.
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