India’s hospitality sector is gearing up for an exciting celebration of skill, passion, and young talent as the Tourism & Hospitality Skill Council prepares to host the IndiaSkills 2026 – Regional Hospitality Competitions in the vibrant city of Guwahati. Scheduled from 19th to 21st January 2026, the three-day event will take place at Down Town University, bringing the spotlight firmly onto the Northeast’s growing hospitality ecosystem.
Part of the flagship IndiaSkills Programme under the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, the IndiaSkills 2026 Hospitality Competitions aim to identify and nurture India’s finest young professionals across five core skill categories:
Bakery
Cooking
Restaurant Services
Patisserie & Confectionery
Hotel Reception
These categories represent the backbone of the tourism and hospitality industry, where precision, creativity, service excellence, and global standards matter the most.
Earning a place at the regional competition was no easy feat. Aspirants from across the Northeast went through a multi-stage selection process, beginning with an MCQ-based knowledge assessment and followed by intensive physical skill trials. Based on overall merit, 39 outstanding candidates were shortlisted to compete at the Northeast Regional level.
These young professionals proudly represent Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Sikkim, Mizoram, and Tripura, reflecting the rich cultural diversity and untapped talent of the region.
IndiaSkills is more than a competition—it is India’s official pathway to the globally renowned WorldSkills Competition, often referred to as the Olympics of Skills. Winners from IndiaSkills undergo structured national-level training before earning the honour of representing India on the world stage.
India’s hospitality competitors have consistently made the nation proud, securing medals and medallions at WorldSkills events in 2017, 2019, 2022, and 2024. These achievements highlight how focused skilling, expert mentorship, and industry collaboration are elevating Indian hospitality talent to global benchmarks.
Speaking on the significance of the initiative, Rajan Bahadur, CEO of the Tourism & Hospitality Skill Council, emphasized the larger vision behind IndiaSkills:
“IndiaSkills competitions play a vital role in identifying, nurturing, and celebrating vocational excellence in India. This platform empowers young professionals to represent the country internationally while strengthening the future workforce of the hospitality sector.”
The top three winners in each skill category will receive advanced training and compete in two additional physical rounds, after which one finalist per skill will be selected to represent India at WorldSkills Shanghai.
Participants will be judged by a distinguished panel of experts from leading colleges, academies, institutes, and hospitality brands. This ensures a transparent, rigorous, and globally benchmarked assessment process, giving every competitor a fair chance to shine.
The Tourism & Hospitality Skill Council is the apex body for vocational education and skill development in India’s tourism and hospitality sector. Since its inception, THSC has:
Enrolled 2+ million candidates
Certified 1.6+ million youth
Built a strong ecosystem of 1000+ training institutes, 81+ colleges, and 5000+ industry partners
Through industry-aligned skilling frameworks, THSC continues to create employable talent and sustainable career pathways for India’s hospitality workforce.
For aspiring hospitality professionals, IndiaSkills 2026 is more than a competition—it’s a career-defining opportunity. For the industry, it is a powerful reminder that India’s future in tourism and hospitality lies in skilled, confident, and globally competitive youth.
As Guwahati gets ready to host this landmark event, all eyes will be on the Northeast—where passion meets skill, and local talent takes confident steps towards the global stage.
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