FSSAI
Manual of Methods of Analysis of Foods — Cereal and Cereal Products (2022)
Official analytical methods for cereals and flours.
Exam resources
Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) Assistant Manager 2026
APEDA, the export promotion body for agricultural and processed food products, recruits Assistant Managers with a bachelor's degree in agriculture or allied subjects, including food technology and food science, through a 100-mark written test on general awareness, APEDA and agri-exports, the degree subject, and an essay and precis.
The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), a statutory body under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, promotes exports of the agricultural and processed food products scheduled under the APEDA Act, 1985. It recruits Assistant Managers (Group B, Pay Level 6) every year or two in small numbers: Advertisement No. 1/2026 had three Assistant Manager posts. Selection is a single written test of 100 marks in 2.5 hours, with 80 objective questions and a 20-mark essay and precis; you need 60% to be shortlisted, and the merit list is prepared on the written test.
- Conducted by
- Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), New Delhi
Who can apply
For Advertisement No. 1/2026 an Assistant Manager needed a bachelor's or undergraduate degree in agriculture or an allied subject, including Food Processing, Food Processing Technology, Food Technology, Food Science and Food Science and Technology, and an age of not more than 30 years on the closing date.
- Essential (Assistant Manager and Assistant Manager (Agriculture)): Bachelor's/Under-graduate degree in Agriculture, Horticulture, Plantation, Agriculture Engineering, Agriculture and Cooperation, Veterinary Science, Dairy Science, Dairy Technology, Food Processing, Food Processing Technology, Food Technology, Food Science or Food Science and Technology from a recognised university or institution
- Age: 30 years maximum on the closing date; relaxation of 10 years for PwD, 3 years for ex-servicemen after deducting service, 5 years for regular APEDA employees
- Posts in 2026: Assistant Manager 2 (UR) and Assistant Manager (Agriculture) 1 (UR, for PwBD Low Vision); Group B, Pay Level 6 (Rs 35,400 to 1,12,400)
- Fee: Rs 300; women, SC, ST and PwBD candidates are exempt
- Written test only for these posts: 60% of the written test marks to be shortlisted
A summary. Confirm the details in the current notice.
Source: APEDA Recruitment Advertisement No. 1/2026 ↗. Checked 2026-10-30.
Based on past papers, not an official scheme. Confirm in the current notice.
Every section is compulsory, with no choice between them, and the paper is timed at 120 minutes.
| Section | Questions | Marks | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Awareness including current affairs, English and Reasoning | 20 | 20 | Compulsory |
| APEDA / Agri-export related | 30 | 30 | Compulsory |
| Degree subject: Food Science and Technology | 30 | 30 | Compulsory |
| Paper total | — | 80 |
Mock tests cover the objective part of APEDA's Assistant Manager written test: General Awareness including current affairs, English and Reasoning 20, APEDA and agri-export related 30, and questions from the degree subject 30, each one mark with four options and 25% negative marking. The real paper is a single 2.5-hour, 100-mark OMR test that also has a 20-mark descriptive essay and precis, which these mocks leave out; candidates need 60% of the written test marks to be shortlisted.
Marking scheme
1 mark for a correct answer; a wrong answer loses 25% of a mark. Unanswered questions carry no penalty. An unanswered question scores zero. Our mocks for this exam are scored the same way.
Source: APEDA Recruitment Advertisement No. 1/2026 (23 May 2026), clause 11(2) ↗
Free PDFs and recommended books for APEDA Assistant Manager. How we choose
Free PDFs
12 free PDFsProcessing & preservation
FSSAI · FoSTaC
FoSTaC Manual — Special (Level 2), Bakery
Bakery process hygiene and hazards as FSSAI sets them out.
NCERT
Class 12 Human Ecology & Family Sciences — Food Processing and Technology
A plain-language overview of preservation and processing.
NIOS
Home Science (321), Lesson 9 — Food Preservation
Household and basic industrial preservation principles.
Agriculture
NCERT
Class 8 Science — Crop Production and Management
Crop seasons, sowing, irrigation and storage.
NCERT
Class 10 Geography — Agriculture
Indian cropping patterns, major crops and agricultural reforms.
TNAU
Crop Production Guide — Horticulture Crops (2020)
The official package of practices for fruits, vegetables and spices.
Food safety & law
FSSAI
Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 (full text)
The core food law behind every CFSO, TO and Food Analyst law paper.
FSSAI
Manual for Food Safety Officers — A Ready Reckoner
FSSAI's own handbook of a Food Safety Officer's hygiene and enforcement duties.
FSSAI
Manual of Methods of Analysis of Foods — Spices and Condiments
Official methods for spice quality and adulterant detection.
FSSAI
Compendium — Food Additives Regulations (December 2022)
Consolidated legal limits for additives by food category.
Food chemistry
FSSAI
Manual of Methods of Analysis of Foods — Oils and Fats
Official methods for acid, iodine and saponification values and related tests.
Official and open resources
3 resourcesOfficial resource
APEDA website: schemes, products, export procedures and NPOP
The 30-question APEDA and agri-export section draws on APEDA's mandate.
Official resource
Directorate General of Foreign Trade: Foreign Trade Policy
Export promotion schemes, registration.
Official law
Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 (English)
Food standards and import-export clearance questions overlap with FSSAI law.
Core food science
3 resourcesCore food technology
Textbook of Food Science and Technology (ICAR)
Degree-level food technology revision for the 30-question subject section.
Reading suggestion
Core agriculture
Handbook of Agriculture (ICAR)
Agriculture and horticulture basics for the export-crop questions.
Reading suggestion
Reasoning
A Modern Approach to Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning by R. S. Aggarwal
Reasoning items in the first section.
Reading suggestion
Aptitude and general studies
1 resourceGeneral studies
Lucent General Knowledge
Static general knowledge for the general-awareness questions.
Reading suggestion
Full topic list and section weightage APEDA Assistant Manager syllabus and exam pattern
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