The Odisha Staff Selection Commission (OSSC) conducts the Food Safety Officer (FSO) recruitment under the Combined Graduate Level Recruitment Examination with a two‑paper Main Written Examination of 200 marks, followed by a 50‑mark qualifying Computer Skill Test and document verification, without any interview stage.
The written test is fully objective‑type and is divided into Paper‑I (Composite Paper: General Studies, Mathematics, Computer Application - theory, and English) and Paper‑II (Technical: Food Safety Act & Rules and Chemistry), each carrying 100 questions for 100 marks in 1½ hours, and current patterns clearly mention 0.25 negative marking per wrong answer in Paper‑II, so candidates must prepare thoroughly for all subjects to score high enough in the 200‑mark written exam and then qualify the Computer Skill Test to be included in the final selection list.
OSSC Food Safety Officer Syllabus 2026 - Overview
| OSSC Food Safety Officer Syllabus 2026 - Overview | |
|---|---|
| Conducting Authority | Odisha Staff Selection Commission (OSSC) |
| Post Name | Food Safety Officer (FSO) |
| Recruitment Year | 2026 |
| Total Vacancies | 84 |
| Group & Pay Level | Group‑B, Level‑9, Cell‑1 of ORSP 2017 |
| Exam Mode | Computer Based Test (CBT) |
| Question Type | Objective type (Multiple Choice Questions) |
| Medium of Exam | English |
| Stages of Selection | Main Written Exam (Paper 1 & Paper 2) + Computer Skill Test + Document Verification |
| Paper 1 (Composite) | General Studies, Mathematics, Computer Application (Theory), English – 100 questions, 100 marks, 1.5 hours |
| Paper 2 (Technical) | Food Safety Act & Rules (50 marks), Chemistry (50 marks) – 100 questions, 100 marks, 1.5 hours |
| Negative Marking | Paper 2: 0.25 marks deducted for each wrong answer |
| Computer Skill Test | Qualifying; 50 marks; minimum 15 marks required |
| Age Limit | 21 to 42 years (age relaxation as per rules) |
| Salary | Level‑9 of ORSP, 2017 |
| Official Website | ossc.gov.in |
Download OSSC Food Safety Officer Syllabus 2026 PDF
The official OSSC Food Safety Officer Syllabus 2026 is now available for candidates preparing for the upcoming OSSC FSO recruitment exam. Aspirants can check the latest exam pattern, subject-wise topics, and marking scheme to streamline their preparation as per the OSSC FSO Syllabus 2026.
Click Here to Download OSSC Food Safety Officer Syllabus PDF 2026
OSSC Food Safety Officer Exam Pattern 2026
Main Written Examination
The main written exam has two papers of equal weightage, each conducted in objective‑type (MCQ) mode.
| Paper | Subjects | No. of Questions | Marks | Duration | Negative Marking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper‑I | Composite Paper (General Studies, Mathematics, Computer Application – Theory, English) | 100 | 100 | 1½ hours | Not specifically mentioned for Paper‑I in current patterns (follow official notice) |
| Paper‑II | Technical Paper (Food Safety Act & Rules – 50 marks, Chemistry – 50 marks) | 100 | 100 | 1½ hours | Yes – 0.25 mark deducted per wrong answer |
| – | Total (Written) | 200 | 200 | 3 hours | – |
Important points:
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Each question carries 1 mark.
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Paper‑II (Technical) has 1/4 (0.25) negative marking for each wrong answer.
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Candidates are shortlisted for the Computer Skill Test based on total marks in Paper‑I and Paper‑II combined, up to about three times the number of vacancies (category‑wise).
Computer Skill Test (CST)
The Computer Skill Test is qualifying in nature and is held after the written exam.
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Total marks: 50
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Duration: 1 hour
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Minimum qualifying marks: 15
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Syllabus scope: Windows, MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), MS Access, and basic internet usage.
Candidates who score at least 15/50 in the CST and figure high enough in the written exam merit list are called for document verification.
OSSC Food Safety Officer Syllabus 2026 – Paper‑wise
Paper‑I: Composite Paper (100 Marks)
Paper‑I checks general awareness, numerical ability, basic computer theory and English usage.
A. General Studies
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Indian History and National Movement
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Indian Geography and Odisha‑related geography highlights
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Indian Polity and Governance
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Indian Economy and basic economic concepts
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General Science and environmental issues
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Social issues, Human Rights and related topics
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Current Affairs (national and international events, important places, persons and institutions in news)
B. Mathematics (HSC Standard)
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Arithmetic
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Algebra
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Geometry
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Statistics
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Trigonometry
C. Computer Application (Theory)
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Basics of Windows operating system
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MS Word – basic operations and features
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MS Excel – basic formulas, spreadsheets
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MS PowerPoint – basic presentations
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MS Access – basic database concepts
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Basic internet usage and email
D. English
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Basic grammar (parts of speech, tenses, articles, prepositions, subject–verb agreement)
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Vocabulary (word meanings, synonyms, antonyms)
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Usage and sentence structure
Paper‑II: Technical Paper (100 Marks)
Paper‑II is purely subject‑specific, assessing Food Safety law and core food‑science chemistry.
1. Food Safety Standards, Acts, Rules & Regulations (50 Marks)
Broad coverage includes:
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Food safety and standards framework (Act, rules, regulations and relevant provisions)
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Basic definitions under food safety law (food, food additive, contaminant, unsafe food, misbranded food, etc.)
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Licensing and registration requirements for food business operators
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Packaging and labelling requirements and declarations
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General and specific food hygiene requirements and good hygienic practices
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Responsibilities and duties of food business operators and food handlers
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Sampling, analysis, food recall procedures and enforcement basics
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Prohibitions and penalties under food safety law
(Sources list these areas at a high level; you should mirror the headings and wording from the official OSSC FSO syllabus PDF when you publish.)
Broad chemistry topics relevant to food science include:
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Basic composition of food: carbohydrates, proteins, fats and other constituents
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Nutrients, enzymes, vitamins and their role in food
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Food spoilage and its causes (microbial, enzymatic, chemical)
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Food preservation principles and common methods
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Food poisoning, food‑borne diseases and public‑health concerns
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Fermentation processes in foods
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Basic analytical parameters used in food testing (as indicated in technical syllabus outlines)
Again, when you implement this on your site, align names/wording exactly with the OSSC FSO syllabus PDF list instead of inventing sub‑headings.
OSSC Food Safety Officer Exam Preparation Tips 2026
- Understand the Syllabus & Pattern - Read the full OSSC FSO syllabus and exam scheme and download the official PDF before you start preparing.
- Plan a Practical Study Schedule - Give extra time to Paper-II (Food Safety Act & Chemistry) while keeping daily slots for GS, Maths, English, Computer and Current Affairs.
- Use Standard Books & Notes - Follow trusted books and coaching notes for GS and technical subjects, and keep them limited so you can revise them multiple times.
- Solve Previous Papers & MCQs - Practise past papers and chapter-wise MCQs to understand the question style and improve accuracy, especially in the technical section.
- Attempt Regular Mock Tests - Take full-length mock tests under exam-like timing to build speed, accuracy and time management for both papers.
- Avoid Negative Marking Traps - In Paper-II, attempt only those questions where you are reasonably sure, because each wrong answer carries 0.25 negative marking.
- Revise Daily & Make Short Notes - Prepare brief notes for laws, formulas and key facts, and revise them every day in the last few weeks before the exam.
- Prepare for the Computer Skill Test - Practise MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access and basic internet operations so you can easily score the qualifying marks in CST.
