The Tourism and Hospitality Skill Council (THSC), in partnership with the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), has moved into the final phase of its nationwide selection process to identify India’s top young talent for the WorldSkills Competition 2026
The global competition will be held from September 22 to 27, 2026, in Shanghai, China.
WorldSkills is one of the largest international skill competitions, bringing together over 1,400 participants from more than 70 countries, competing across multiple vocational categories. In the hospitality segment, India will be represented across five key disciplines including Bakery, Cookery, Patisserie & Confectionery, Hotel Reception, and Restaurant Service, areas where Indian participants have consistently demonstrated strong capabilities.
Speaking about the initiative, Rajan Bahadur, CEO, THSC, said, “This initiative plays an important role in identifying and nurturing young talent across the country. It provides a strong platform for them to showcase their skills while aligning with international standards and preparing to represent India at a global level. It also helps create a structured pathway for skill development, ensuring that participants gain the right exposure and guidance to perform confidently on international platforms like WorldSkills.”
The selection process has seen participation from a large pool of candidates across the country, progressing through state and regional-level competitions conducted over the past few months. Following these rounds, 50 candidates have been shortlisted as national finalists.
These finalists will now compete at the IndiaSkills National Competition, scheduled to be held at the School of Tourism & Hospitality, C.V. Raman Global University in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. The competition will serve as the final selection platform to identify candidates who will go on to represent India at the WorldSkills Competition.
Post selection, the winning candidates will undergo structured training and mentorship under industry experts. This phase will focus on refining technical skills, improving consistency, and preparing participants for the format and expectations of international competition.
As the IndiaSkills 2025–26 cycle approaches its final stage, the focus now shifts to the national competition, where the country’s top talent will compete for a place on the global stage at WorldSkills Shanghai 2026.
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