The last date to apply is 3 days away (19 October 2026).
The Haryana Public Service Commission (HPSC) has released the exam scheme and syllabus for 45 Food Safety Officer (Group-B) posts in the Food and Drugs Administration Department, Haryana, under Advt. No. 25/2026. Selection runs in three stages:
- A screening test on 6 December 2026: 100 MCQs, with negative marking.
- A subjective Subject Knowledge Test on 31 January 2027: 150 marks, 87.5% weightage.
- An interview: 12.5% weightage.
Important Note
1. Applications close on 19 October 2026, just 3 days away. If you haven’t applied yet, do it now at hpsc.gov.in.
2. In the screening test, one-fourth mark is deducted for a wrong answer AND for leaving a question blank without marking the fifth option. Leaving more than 10% of questions completely blank leads to disqualification.
3. The screening test is on 6 December 2026 and the Subject Knowledge Test is on 31 January 2027. Screening marks don’t count in the final merit.
HPSC Food Safety Officer Syllabus 2026: Overview
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Conducting Body | Haryana Public Service Commission (HPSC) |
| Post Name | Food Safety Officer (Group-B) |
| Department | Food and Drugs Administration Department, Haryana |
| Advertisement No. | 25/2026 |
| Total Vacancies | 45 |
| Last Date to Apply | 19 October 2026 |
| Screening Test | 6 December 2026 (100 MCQs, 2 hours) |
| Subject Knowledge Test | 31 January 2027 (subjective, 150 marks, 3 hours) |
| Final Merit | Subject Knowledge Test 87.5% + Interview 12.5% |
| Exam Medium | English |
| Official Website | hpsc.gov.in |
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Advertisement Published | 19 September 2026 |
| Syllabus Announcement | 15 October 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply | 19 October 2026 |
| Screening Test | 6 December 2026 |
| Subject Knowledge Test | 31 January 2027 |
| Interview | Not yet announced |
Selection Process
| Stage | Details |
|---|---|
| Screening Test | Held if there are many applicants. Qualifying only, 25% minimum |
| Subject Knowledge Test | 150 marks, subjective. 35% minimum. 87.5% weightage |
| Interview | 12.5% weightage |
| Final Merit | Subject Knowledge Test + Interview |
Attending every applicable stage is mandatory.
HPSC FSO Exam Pattern 2026
Screening Test (6 December 2026)
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Questions / Marks | 100 MCQs / 100 marks |
| Duration | 2 hours |
| Options | 5 per question (the 5th option is for “not attempting”) |
| Negative Marking | −1/4 per wrong answer, and −1/4 for a blank question with no option marked |
| Disqualification | No circle darkened in more than 10% of questions |
| Qualifying Marks | 25% |
| Shortlisting | Up to 4 times the vacancies (plus bracketed candidates) |
| Counted in Final Merit | No |
Subject Knowledge Test (31 January 2027)
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Type | Subjective |
| Marks | 150 |
| Duration | 3 hours |
| Qualifying Marks | 35% |
| Interview Shortlisting | 2 times the vacancies (plus bracketed candidates) |
| Weightage | 87.5% |
Screening Test Syllabus
| Subject | Topics |
|---|---|
| General Science | General science |
| Current Affairs | National and international events |
| History | History of India |
| Geography | Indian and world geography |
| Polity and Economy | Indian culture, polity and economy |
| Mental Ability | Reasoning and analytical ability |
| Basic Numeracy | Numbers, order of magnitude (Class X level) |
| Data Interpretation | Charts, graphs, tables, data sufficiency (Class X level) |
| Haryana GK | Haryana history, geography, polity, economy and culture |
Subject Knowledge Test Syllabus (12 Units)
| Unit | Subject | Key Topics |
|---|---|---|
| I | Food Chemistry | Carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, vitamins, minerals, enzymes, water activity, emulsions, anti-nutritional factors |
| II | Human Nutrition | Digestion and metabolism, balanced diet, BMI, BMR, deficiencies, fortification, nutrition programmes |
| III | Food Microbiology | Foodborne pathogens and toxins, spoilage, fermentation microbes, microbiological testing |
| IV | Primary Production | Crops, dairy, poultry, fisheries; GAP; pesticides and veterinary residues; post-harvest handling; ICAR, KVKs, NABARD |
| V | Food Commodities | Milk, meat, fish, eggs, cereals, pulses, oils, fruits, vegetables, spices; adulterants |
| VI | Processing and Packaging | Thermal processing, freezing, irradiation, HPP, PEF, cold plasma, additives, packaging, shelf life, cold chain |
| VII | Food Safety Management | Hazards, food fraud, hygiene, FSSAI Schedule 4, GMP, GHP, HACCP, ISO 22000:2018, traceability, recall |
| VIII | Sampling and Analysis | Sampling and chain of custody, chromatography, spectroscopy, molecular methods, RAFT kits, ISO/IEC 17025 |
| IX | Indian Food Law | FSS Act 2006, FSS Rules 2011, licensing, labelling, inspection, seizure, roles of FSO, DO, Food Analyst, appeals |
| X | FSSAI Systems | FSSAI structure, Eat Right India, Clean Street Food Hubs, RUCO, BIS, AGMARK, APEDA, EIC, CFTRI, NIFTEM |
| XI | International Standards | Codex, JECFA, JEMRA, JMPR, WTO SPS and TBT, certification and accreditation |
| XII | Biotechnology and Emerging Issues | Fermentation, GM foods, biosafety, rapid diagnostics, recent FSSAI regulations |
How to Prepare
- Apply before 19 October 2026 if you haven’t yet.
- Answer every screening question or mark the 5th option. Leaving a question blank costs marks, and leaving too many blank disqualifies you.
- Treat the Subject Knowledge Test as the real exam. It decides 87.5% of your selection.
- Master Units VII to X. Food law, FSSAI systems and safety management are core to an FSO’s role.
- Practise long-form answers. The Subject Knowledge Test is subjective and runs for 3 hours.
What Candidates Should Do Next
- Complete your application by 19 October 2026.
- Download the official scheme and syllabus from hpsc.gov.in.
- Watch hpsc.gov.in for the screening test admit card.
Important Links
| Description | Link |
|---|---|
| HPSC Scheme / Pattern of Exam (FSO Syllabus) | Click Here |
| HPSC Examination Schedule | Click Here |
| HPSC Official Website | Click Here |
FAQs
Is the HPSC Food Safety Officer Syllabus 2026 released?
Yes. HPSC released the exam scheme and syllabus for 45 FSO posts under Advt. No. 25/2026 on 15 October 2026.
What is the last date to apply for HPSC Food Safety Officer 2026?
The last date is 19 October 2026.
When is the HPSC FSO screening test?
The screening test is on 6 December 2026.
When is the HPSC FSO Subject Knowledge Test?
The Subject Knowledge Test is on 31 January 2027.
Is there negative marking in the HPSC FSO screening test?
Yes. One-fourth mark is deducted for each wrong answer, and also for each question left blank without marking the fifth option.
Do screening test marks count in the final merit?
No. The final merit is based on the Subject Knowledge Test (87.5%) and the interview (12.5%).
What is the minimum qualifying mark?
25% in the screening test and 35% in the Subject Knowledge Test.
Disclaimer
This article is based on the HPSC exam scheme and syllabus for Food Safety Officer (Advt. No. 25/2026), announced on hpsc.gov.in on 15 October 2026. The interview date was not available in the information reviewed. Candidates must verify all dates and rules on hpsc.gov.in. JobShouter is not associated with the Haryana Public Service Commission. This article is for informational purposes only.
