GSSSB FSO Recruitment 2026 Notification Out – Apply Online for 84 Food Safety Officer Posts

The Gujarat Subordinate Service Selection Board (Gujarat Gaun Seva Pasandgi Mandal), Gandhinagar, is recruiting for 84 Food Safety Officer, Class-3 posts under GSSSB Recruitment 2026. The posts are in the office of the Commissioner, Food and Drugs Control Administration, under the control of the Health and Family Welfare Department. The pay is a fixed Rs. 40,800 per month for the first five years. Selection is through a one-stage MCQ competitive examination (CBRT/OMR). Candidates must be 18 to 37 years old on 10 November 2026. Applications are accepted only online on ojas.gujarat.gov.in, from 27 October 2026 (18:00 hours) to 10 November 2026 (23:59 hours). Only candidates with an OTR (One Time Registration) on OJAS can fill in the form.

GSSSB Recruitment 2026 Overview

GSSSB Advertisement No. 465/202627 fills the Food Safety Officer, Class-3 cadre by direct recruitment. Selection is through a competitive examination, and the Board prepares a selection list for the office of the Commissioner, Food and Drugs Control Administration.

About GSSSB Recruitment 2026

The Gujarat Subordinate Service Selection Board (GSSSB) is a Gujarat government recruitment board. Its office is at Block No. 2, First Floor, Karmayogi Bhavan, Sector-10-A, Gandhinagar. In this recruitment it selects Food Safety Officers for the office of the Commissioner, Food and Drugs Control Administration, which works under the control of the Health and Family Welfare Department. Official updates are posted on gsssb.gujarat.gov.in, and applications are taken through OJAS.

GSSSB Recruitment 2026 Important Dates

GSSSB Vacancy 2026

GSSSB Recruitment 2026 has 84 Food Safety Officer, Class-3 posts in all. The notice says the number of posts may go up or down.

GSSSB Category-wise Vacancy 2026

Of the 84 posts, 08 are reserved for ex-servicemen and 00 for candidates with disabilities. The posts reserved for candidates with disabilities in this cadre are advertised separately under Advertisement No. 466/202627, a special recruitment drive for candidates with disabilities. For that reason they are not shown in this advertisement.

• Reserved posts are only for candidates from the reserved classes of Gujarat origin.
• Posts for women are reserved under the General Administration Department notification dated 11/11/2014. If no suitable woman candidate is available, the post goes to a male candidate of the same category.
• The posts left after the women's reservation are not reserved for men. Men and women can both apply for them, and selection is by merit on marks or normalised marks.
• Ex-servicemen get a 10% reservation. A selected ex-serviceman is adjusted against his own category (UR, EWS, SEBC, SC or ST). If no suitable ex-serviceman is available, the post goes to an eligible candidate of that category.

Disabilities Eligible for the Food Safety Officer Post

These disabilities are accepted both for reserved posts and when a candidate with a disability applies against a post that is not reserved:

GSSSB Eligibility Criteria 2026

The educational qualification for Food Safety Officer, Class-3 follows the recruitment rules notified by the Health and Family Welfare Department on 02/07/2016 (No. GP/4/FSO/10/2016/1791[1791]/JH).

The degree must come from a university established or incorporated by or under a Central or State Act in India, or from an institution recognised as such or declared a deemed university under section 3 of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956. An equivalent qualification recognised by the Government is also accepted. The recruitment rules also say that no person who has any financial interest in the manufacture, import or sale of any article of food shall be appointed as a Food Safety Officer.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare notification dated 21/09/2023 (F.N.P. 15014/8/2023-FR) is also accepted. Under it, a bachelor's degree, master's degree or Doctorate degree from a recognised University or Institution in the following disciplines is valid:

When filling in the online form, a Doctorate degree in Food Technology or a Doctorate degree in Agricultural Science is also accepted as the qualification above.

Other Conditions

• Computer knowledge: Candidates must have the basic computer knowledge prescribed in the Gujarat Civil Services Classification and Recruitment (General) Rules, 1967 and the General Administration Department resolutions dated 13/08/2008 and 18/03/2016. Any of these is accepted as proof:
  • a certificate or marksheet from any training institute;
  • a diploma, degree or certificate course in computers from a government-recognised university or institution;
  • a degree or diploma that had computers as a subject;
  • Class 10 or Class 12 passed with computers as a subject.
  Candidates without such a certificate can still apply. However, they must pass the basic computer knowledge test and submit the certificate to the appointing authority before appointment. Otherwise they will not be eligible for appointment.
• Language: Adequate knowledge of Gujarati or Hindi or both.
• Nationality: Candidates must be citizens of India, or have the nationality allowed under Rule 7 of the Gujarat Civil Services Classification and Recruitment (General) Rules, 1967.
• Cut-off date: Qualification, age, the non-creamy layer certificate, the EWS certificate, the caste certificate and other qualifications are all judged as on 10/11/2026.
• Foreign degrees: Candidates with a degree from a foreign university must give UGC proof of its recognition or equivalence in India within the document verification schedule.
• At final selection, all the qualification provisions of the recruitment rules will be applied. Any question about how the advertisement should be read will be decided after consulting the head of the department concerned.

Candidates should check the official notification for the discipline-specific eligibility for the Food Safety Officer, Class-3 post.

GSSSB Age Limit 2026

On 10/11/2026, candidates must be at least 18 years old and not more than 37 years old. Candidates already in Gujarat Government service may get a relaxation of the upper age limit under the Gujarat Civil Services Classification and Recruitment (General) Rules, 1967.

Age Relaxation

• Only SC, ST, SEBC and EWS candidates of Gujarat origin get the age relaxation and reservation benefits. Reserved-category candidates who apply against an unreserved post get no age relaxation or any other relaxation.
• SEBC: One of these certificates is needed:
  • a non-creamy layer certificate in the Gujarati format of Annexure-4, based on income for 2023-24, 2024-25 and 2025-26, obtained between 01/04/2024 and 10/11/2026; or
  • the Government of India Annexure-A certificate, obtained between 01/04/2026 and 10/11/2026.
  Married SEBC women must give a certificate based on their parents' income. If the certificate is based on the husband's income, the application will be rejected.
• EWS: One of these certificates is needed:
  • Annexure-KH (English) or Parishisht-G (Gujarati), issued between 11/11/2023 and 10/11/2026; or
  • the Government of India Income and Asset Certificate based on 2025-26 income, obtained between 01/04/2026 and 10/11/2026.
  No other certificate is accepted. Certificates issued for Gujarat government scheme benefits are not accepted in any case.
• SEBC and EWS candidates must enter the certificate number and issue date in the online form and show the same certificate in original at verification. A new certificate obtained after the last date will not be considered. A candidate who cannot produce the certificate, and who is above the age limit for unreserved candidates, will have the candidature cancelled.
• Candidates with disabilities: The 10-year relaxation (maximum 45 years) depends on a medical certificate from a Superintendent or Civil Surgeon, issued as set out in the Health and Family Welfare Department circular dated 15/12/2025 (No. HFWD/MSM/e-file/7/2024/1833/A). The disability and its percentage must be entered under Personal Details in the online form. The Disability Certificate must be in Form V, VI or VII under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Rules, 2017. Candidates with disabilities who apply against an unreserved post are judged by unreserved standards.
• Ex-servicemen: The relaxation applies to those who have served at least six months in the Army, Navy or Air Force and hold the competent authority's identity card and discharge book. Ex-servicemen who are due to retire within one year of the last date may also apply.

GSSSB Salary 2026

For the first five years, appointment is on the fixed pay of Rs. 40,800 per month and the other benefits under the Finance Department resolutions. The latest of these is the resolution dated 18/10/2023 (No. Kharch-2002-57-(Part-4)-Z.1). If service is found satisfactory at the end of five years, the candidate becomes eligible for regular appointment in the Level-5 pay scale. This is subject to the General Administration Department resolution dated 23/10/2015 and the Finance Department resolutions dated 28/03/2016 and 18/01/2017. It is also subject to the Supreme Court's decision in SLP No.14124/2012 and SLP No.14125/2012.

GSSSB Application Fee 2026

• The fee is paid online only, after the application is submitted and a confirmation number is generated, by 13/11/2026 (23:59 hours). No other mode is accepted, and no late fee is accepted.
• Payment can be made by Debit Card, Internet Banking, UPI or Wallets. Go to the Online Application tab on OJAS, then Print Application Form / Pay Fees, then Online Payment of Fees. The transaction charge is paid on top of the fee.
• Candidates must keep a printout of the fee receipt or the e-receipt. If no receipt is generated, the fee is not treated as paid. The receipt can be printed again through Print Application Form / Pay Fees, then Online Payment Receipt.
• The fee is refunded, through the mode used to pay it, to candidates who appear in the examination. Candidates who do not appear get no refund. This is why the bank account details asked for in the form matter.
• An application without the fee is rejected without notice. The fee is not refunded if the Board rejects an application.

GSSSB Selection Process 2026

1. One-stage MCQ competitive examination (CBRT or OMR), with Part-A and Part-B in a single question paper.
2. Provisional result for all candidates who appear, published on the Board's website.
3. Document verification for about two times the number of posts in each category, chosen by total marks from among candidates who meet the qualifying standard in both parts. If enough candidates are not available after this, more candidates from the provisional merit list may be called by category.
4. Selection list, and a waiting list where applicable, prepared by category on merit (General Administration Department resolution dated 27/07/2018).
5. The Board recommends the selected candidates to the department concerned for appointment, in order of Merit Number.

• Widows: Widow candidates get 5% of their CBRT/OMR marks added for preference in selection. They must not have remarried at the time of appointment and must produce proof in original. A woman who becomes a widow after applying gets the benefit from the stage of the process still remaining after she submits proof.
• Sportspersons: Candidates who have represented in (i) national or international, (ii) inter-university or (iii) All India School Federation competitions get 5% of their marks added. This applies to these sports: Athletics (including track and field), Badminton, Basketball, Cricket, Football, Hockey, Swimming, Table Tennis, Volleyball, Tennis, Weightlifting, Wrestling, Boxing, Cycling, Gymnastics, Judo, Rifle Shooting, Kabaddi, Kho-Kho, Archery, Horse riding, Shot put, Rowing, Chess and Handball. A certificate in the prescribed format from the authorised officer is needed at document verification. If it is found later that the certificate is not valid, the extra 5% is withdrawn and the merit is worked out again.

GSSSB Exam Pattern 2026

The examination is MCQ-based and is held in one sitting on CBRT/OMR. The paper is set at the level of the educational qualification, and the syllabus content follows that qualification.

Part-A

Part-B

• There are 90 questions in Part-A and 120 in Part-B, 210 questions in all.
• Candidates get 3 hours (180 minutes) for Part-A and Part-B together.
• Negative marking: 1/4 of the marks for the question is deducted for each wrong answer.
• Qualifying standard: at least 40% in Part-A and at least 40% in Part-B, each counted separately. The minimum is not lower than 40% for any category.
• After the exam, a provisional answer key will be published. The final answer key will be published after the representations on it are considered. If a question is cancelled, its marks are shared out pro-rata among the remaining questions, and negative marking applies to the pro-rata marks.
• The Board will set the exam centres according to the number of candidates. Candidates must attend at the centre on their admit card at their own expense.

How to Apply Online for GSSSB Recruitment 2026

Applications for Advertisement No. 465/202627 are accepted online only, on ojas.gujarat.gov.in, from 27 October 2026 (18:00 hours) to 10 November 2026 (23:59 hours). Only candidates with an OTR (One Time Registration) on OJAS can apply. Candidates who have not registered must complete the OTR first.

1. Go to https://ojas.gujarat.gov.in. Click Apply under "On line Application" and select GSSSB.
2. Click the name of Advertisement No. 465/202627, Food Safety Officer, Class-3, and then Apply. Read the advertisement under More Details, then click Apply now.
3. Enter your Registration No. and date of birth, then click "Apply with OTR". The Personal Details are already filled in from your registration. Fill in every field marked with a red asterisk (*).
4. Enter your SSC details: roll number, month and year of passing, and the board name as printed on the marksheet.
5. For the fee refund, enter your bank account details (name as in the passbook, bank name, IFSC code and account number). Upload the first page of the passbook in JPEG, JPG or PNG format. These details cannot be changed offline once submitted.
6. Fill in the Educational Details. Under "Declaration", select "Yes" and click "save" to generate the Application Number.
7. Click Upload Photograph and enter the application number and date of birth. Upload the photo (5 cm high, 3.6 cm wide) and the signature (2.5 cm high, 7.5 cm wide), each in jpg format and no larger than 15 kb. The photo must be passport size, with a white background and the date it was taken printed on it. That date must not be more than one year before the last date to apply.
8. Click "Confirm Application" in the Online Application tab, check all details, edit if needed, and confirm. Note the "confirmation number". Then use Print Application, select the advertisement, enter the confirmation number and date of birth, and print the application. Pay the fee online by 13 November 2026 (23:59 hours).

• No change of any kind is possible after the application is confirmed. To change any detail, candidates must apply again before the last date, get a new confirmation number and pay the fee for it. The category entered cannot be changed later.
• Only one application should be made. If there are several, the last confirmed one is accepted. For unreserved candidates, it is the last confirmed application with the fee paid. Fees paid on the earlier applications are not refunded.
• The Application Form cannot be downloaded after the last date.
• Candidates should keep five copies of the photograph. The same photo must be pasted on the exam attendance sheet and shown at every later stage.
• For help with qualification, age, the online form or fee payment, call the Board's office at 079-23258916.

Scribe and Compensatory Time

• A scribe or compensatory time is given, on request, to candidates with a benchmark disability who have limits on writing, and to candidates with a temporary disability who cannot write. This follows Office Memorandum F.No.34-02/2015-DD-III dated 29/08/2018 and the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.
• After the admit card notice is published, get the form from the "Umedvar Upyogitao" tab, under "For Divyang candidates", on the Board's website, or from https://gsssb.gujarat.gov.in/Home/ph. Email the filled form with the required certificates to [email protected] at least two days before the exam. Requests received later are not considered.
• Candidates with locomotor disability (both arms affected, BA, at least 40%) need only the disability certificate. Other candidates also need the Appendix-I certificate from the Chief Medical Officer, Civil Surgeon or Medical Superintendent.
• Compensatory time is 20 minutes per hour. The Board's decision is sent to the candidate by email. On exam day, the candidate must show the original certificates and the approval letter to the centre in-charge.

GSSSB Important Instructions 2026

• Keep all original certificates with you while applying, and fill in the form exactly as they show. Details in the form are final. If they do not match the certificates, the application is rejected at whatever stage this is found.
• Keep the mobile number and email ID given in the form active until the process ends. The Board will send exam information by SMS.
• Passing the exam does not give a right to appointment. Selected candidates are appointed on the conditions the appointing authority sets. They must complete government training and pass the training exam. The Board does not handle any correspondence about appointment.
• Misconduct, such as seeking influence, impersonation, forged documents, copying or breaking admit card instructions, can lead to disqualification. It can also lead to a permanent or fixed-period debarment from Board exams and from government jobs, apart from criminal action. Candidates currently debarred by GPSC or another recruitment board or government body will have their applications cancelled automatically.
• The Gujarat Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2023 applies to this exam.
• The recruitment is governed by the Gujarat Civil Services Classification and Recruitment (General) Rules, 1967 and the recruitment rules for this cadre.
• The Board has full right to change or cancel this advertisement and the recruitment process without giving reasons.

GSSSB Recruitment 2026 Important Links