Shekhawat Tries His Hand in the Kitchen at IHM Pusa
Synopsis
Union Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat visited IHM Pusa on 30 July 2026 and joined students in a hands-on kitchen session, joking on X about whether their praise for his dish was genuine or just polite encouragement.
Key Takeaways
Union Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat visited IHM Pusa , New Delhi, on 30 July 2026 .
He participated in a hands-on cooking session alongside hospitality students at the institute.
Students tasted his dish and told him 'it was good' — Shekhawat joked on X that only they know if they meant it.
IHM Pusa is a premier government hotel management institute under the Ministry of Tourism .
The visit is part of routine ministerial outreach to institutions in India's tourism education ecosystem.
A minister walked into a professional kitchen on Thursday, 30 July 2026 — and came out with a dish, a story, and a self-deprecating punchline. Union Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat visited IHM Pusa, New Delhi's premier government hospitality institute, and joined students for a hands-on cooking session that ended with a verdict only the students truly know.
Shekhawat shared the moment on X with characteristic wit: 'मेरी बनाई डिश का स्वाद चखकर उन्होंने "अच्छा बना है" कहा' — 'After tasting the dish I made, they said it was good.' Then came the kicker: 'Whether it was actually good, or they were just boosting my confidence... only they would know!'
IHM Pusa and the Minister's Kitchen Test
IHM Pusa is one of India's oldest and most respected hotel management institutions, operating under the ambit of the Ministry of Tourism. It trains students in culinary arts, front-office management, and hospitality operations — producing graduates who staff hotels, airlines, and restaurants across the country. A minister stepping into its teaching kitchen is less a policy event and more a signal: that the people running the tourism ecosystem are paying attention to those learning it.
Shekhawat's visit fits a pattern of ministerial outreach to institutions within the tourism education ecosystem. Such engagements are designed to bridge the gap between policy corridors and the classroom floor — and occasionally, it seems, between a politician and a pan.
Why Hospitality Training Matters Right Now
India's tourism sector has been on an aggressive expansion push, with the government investing in skilling and capacity-building to meet rising domestic and international visitor numbers. Institutions like IHM Pusa sit at the centre of that ambition — churning out the chefs, managers, and service professionals the industry needs. A visit from the minister in charge of tourism signals continued political attention to that pipeline.
Whether Shekhawat's dish cleared the bar of professional scrutiny or earned a polite pass from courteous students, the moment landed exactly as intended — human, accessible, and quietly making the point that the ministry's leadership is engaged with its institutions from the ground up.
Point of View
Relatable moment. It keeps the ministry visible within its own institutional ecosystem without requiring a formal announcement. The self-deprecating social media framing amplifies reach beyond the visit itself, reinforcing a personal brand built on accessibility. For the hospitality sector, such ministerial attention — however light in policy content — signals continued political investment in skilling and capacity-building.
NationPress
30 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Gajendra Singh Shekhawat visit IHM Pusa?
Shekhawat visited IHM Pusa on 30 July 2026 for a hands-on engagement with hospitality students, participating in a kitchen cooking session as part of ministerial outreach to tourism education institutions.
What did Shekhawat cook at IHM Pusa?
The minister did not specify the dish publicly, but shared on X that students tasted what he made and told him it was good — adding with humour that only they know if that verdict was genuine.
Is Gajendra Singh Shekhawat the Union Tourism Minister?
Yes, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat is the Union Minister of Culture and Tourism, a senior BJP leader and Lok Sabha MP from Jodhpur, Rajasthan.
What is the government doing for hospitality training in India?
The Ministry of Tourism supports institutions like IHM Pusa to build skilled manpower for India's expanding hospitality sector, with ministerial visits forming part of broader outreach and capacity-building efforts.
