The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has announced a guidance webinar for schools participating in the Young India Culinary Championship (YICC) 2026–27 Regional Level. The session is scheduled for October 15 and is intended for participating schools in the Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai regions. It comes ahead of the regional competitions, which CBSE has scheduled to begin from October 26.

The webinar is meant to help schools understand the Level II process and resolve practical questions before students compete. School heads, teachers and participating students should check the latest CBSE communication shared with their institution for the session’s joining link and timing. An earlier YICC regional webinar was held on August 27, so schools should make sure they are using details for the October session rather than an older link or schedule.

What participating schools should prepare

Schools can use the guidance session to confirm what their shortlisted students need to bring, how the competition will run, and what teachers must coordinate before the event. A school coordinator should review the latest regional-level instructions, note any reporting or documentation requirements, and share confirmed information with students and parents. If a question is not answered during the webinar, schools can follow up through the contact details in the current CBSE notice.

Students should attend with a teacher or school coordinator where possible. They can prepare specific questions about the event format, food preparation rules, equipment, time limits, judging and travel arrangements. The exact requirements should be taken from CBSE’s current guidelines; assumptions based on school-level rules may not apply to the regional stage.

YICC 2026–27: levels and key dates

• July 1, 2026: CBSE announced the championship and opened school-level participation.
• August 1, 2026: The original deadline for school-level registration.
• August 27, 2026: CBSE held an earlier webinar explaining the Regional Level.
• August 31, 2026: CBSE extended the regional registration deadline to September 11.
• October 6, 2026: CBSE issued a venue notification for Level II regional events in Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai.
• October 12–15, 2026: CBSE announced a further guidance webinar for participating schools in those three regions, scheduled for October 15.
• From October 26, 2026: Regional competitions are scheduled to begin.

Why the regional round matters

YICC is a multi-stage school competition for students from CBSE-affiliated schools. The Regional Level follows the school stage and gives shortlisted participants an opportunity to demonstrate their skills in a broader competition. For schools, this means coordinating student preparation, staff support and event logistics alongside the competition guidelines.

The October webinar is targeted at participants linked to Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai; CBSE has issued separate venue information for Delhi. It is a preparation session, not a new registration window or a change to the competition’s selection process. Schools should confirm their region, venue and current instructions directly through CBSE updates before making travel plans. If the October session has already concluded when a school reads this article, it should check whether CBSE has shared a recording or follow-up notice. Details from the August webinar should not be assumed to apply to the October session.