FSSAI
Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 (full text)
The core food law behind every CFSO, TO and Food Analyst law paper.
Exam resources
FSSAI Food Analyst Examination 2026
FSSAI's Food Analyst Examination certifies eligible professionals to analyse food samples for regulatory purposes. Its selection process includes a computer-based test, a practical examination and prescribed training before certification.
The FSSAI Food Analyst Examination certifies Food Analysts under the Food Safety and Standards Act. Candidates who qualify in the computer-based examination must also complete the prescribed practical examination and training before certification. Employment is subject to separate vacancies issued by the relevant authority.
- Conducted by
- Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)
Who can apply
For the 11th Food Analyst Examination (2025-26), FSSAI accepts a relevant Bachelor's, Master's or Doctorate degree (or the specified Institution of Chemists qualification), plus at least three years of food-analysis experience after the minimum qualification.
- Bachelor's, Master's or Doctorate in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Dairy Chemistry, Agricultural Science, Animal Science, Fisheries Science, Biotechnology, Food Safety, Food Technology, Food and Nutrition, Dairy Technology, Oil Technology or Veterinary Sciences
- Or the specified associate qualification of the Institution of Chemists (India) by examination in its Food Analysts section
- At least three years of food-analysis experience in an institution or laboratory after attaining the minimum essential academic qualification
- No upper age limit for appearing in the 11th FAE 2025
A summary. Confirm the details in the current notice.
Source: FSSAI 11th FAE general instructions ↗. Checked 2026-09-21.
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 180 minutes.
| Section | Questions | Marks | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Food Laws And Regulations | 36 | 144 | Compulsory |
| Planning And Organisation Of Laboratories | 34 | 136 | Compulsory |
| Food Preservation And Packaging | 33 | 132 | Compulsory |
| Principles Of Human Nutrition | 32 | 128 | Compulsory |
| Food Chemistry | 33 | 132 | Compulsory |
| Food Microbiology | 32 | 128 | Compulsory |
| Paper total | — | 800 |
Food Laws and Regulations, Planning and Organisation of Laboratories, Food Preservation and Packaging, Principles of Human Nutrition, Food Chemistry and Food Microbiology are all compulsory — there is no optional section to choose.
Marking scheme
+4 for a correct answer, −1 for a wrong answer. An unanswered question scores zero. Our mocks for this exam are scored the same way.
The Food Analyst Examination is a certification exam, so it has no competitive, category-wise cut-off. FSSAI sets a fixed pass mark in each edition's official notice, and every candidate who reaches it qualifies. These are those official pass marks.
| Year | Stage | All candidates | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 11th FAE-2025, Computer Based Test (200 MCQs, +4 / -1) | Minimum 50% of marks | Official, FSSAI Plan of Examination & Syllabus, 11th FAE-2025 ↗ |
| 2025 | 10th FAE (2024 edition), Practical Examination, held Mar-Apr 2025 (Part A 50 + Part B 100 + Part C viva 50 = 200) | Minimum 40% in each of Parts A, B and C, and 50% aggregate | Official, FSSAI 10th FAE Notice, 13 Mar 2025 ↗ |
| 2023 | 9th FAE-2023, Computer Based Test (200 MCQs, +4 / -1) | Minimum 40% of marks | Official, FSSAI Notice regarding 9th FAE and 6th JAE, 03 Jul 2023 ↗ |
Compared across past papers. Not an official announcement.
| Change | Compared papers | Before | After | What changed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | FSSAI 3rd Food Analyst Exam 2016 — Paper I → FSSAI Food Analyst Examination 2021 (7th FAE) | 100 q 100 marks 120 min 1 section | 189 q 756 marks 180 min 1 section |
Questions
100 → 189
Duration
120 → 180 min
Marks
100 → 756
Dropped
Paper I
Added
Food Analysis, Standards & Regulations
|
| 2016 | FSSAI 3rd Food Analyst Exam 2016 — Paper II → FSSAI 3rd Food Analyst Exam 2016 — Paper I | 99 q 99 marks 120 min 1 section | 100 q 100 marks 120 min 1 section |
Questions
99 → 100
Marks
99 → 100
Dropped
Paper II
Added
Paper I
|
Free PDFs and recommended books for FSSAI Food Analyst. How we choose
Free PDFs
12 free PDFsFood safety & law
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.
Processing & preservation
FSSAI
Manual of Methods of Analysis of Foods — Cereal and Cereal Products (2022)
Official analytical methods for cereals and flours.
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.
Nutrition
ICMR-NIN
Dietary Guidelines for Indians (2024, 2nd edition)
India's official diet, RDA and My Plate guidance.
FAO/WHO
Fats and Fatty Acids in Human Nutrition
Expert consultation on lipid requirements.
FAO
Human Nutrition in the Developing World (Latham)
A classic free textbook on macro- and micronutrients and deficiency diseases.
NCERT
Class 12 Human Ecology & Family Sciences — Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics
A simple introduction to clinical nutrition and dietetics.
Official and open resources
21 resourcesOfficial syllabus
Plan of Examination and Syllabus, 11th Food Analyst Examination (22.12.2025)
The current FAE topic weightage and syllabus, set by FSSAI.
Official syllabus
FSSAI Food Analyst syllabus, Advt DR-04/2021
Subject-wise indicative syllabus for the Food Analyst written test.
Official law
Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 (English)
The parent law; FSO and CFSO papers test its sections, offences and penalties.
Official law
Food Safety and Standards Rules, 2011 (compendium, Version I, 01.04.2025)
Rule 2.1.3 sets the FSO qualification and duties.
Official law
FSS (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011 (compendium)
Covers the registration and licence thresholds.
Official law
FSS (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011
Commodity standards and additive limits.
Official law
FSS (Contaminants, Toxins and Residues) Regulations, 2011
Limits for metals, mycotoxins, pesticide residues and antibiotics.
Official law
FSS (Laboratory and Sample Analysis) Regulations, 2011
Sampling and laboratory procedure, needed for Food Analyst and FSO duties.
Official law
FSS (Packaging) Regulations, 2018 (compendium, 02.04.2025)
Food-contact material rules and packaging requirements.
Official law
FSS (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2020 (compendium, Version VIII, 09.09.2025)
Current labelling, nutrition-information and front-of-pack display rules.
Official methods
FSSAI Manual: Cereal and Cereal Products (2nd ed., 2026)
Official test methods for cereal products.
Official methods
FSSAI Manual: Dairy and Dairy Products (2nd ed., 2026)
Official milk and dairy test methods, including adulterant detection.
Official methods
FSSAI Manual: Oils and Fats (revised 2024)
Methods for oil constants such as iodine, saponification and RM values.
Official methods
FSSAI Manual: Food Additives
Methods for preservatives, colours and sweeteners.
Official methods
FSSAI Manual: Fruit and Vegetable Products
Methods for juices, jams and other fruit and vegetable products.
Official methods
FSSAI Manual: Mycotoxins (revised 2021)
Aflatoxin and other mycotoxin methods.
Official methods
FSSAI Manual: Metals
Methods for heavy and trace metals.
Official methods
FSSAI Manual: Spices, Herbs and Condiments (revised 2021)
Spice quality and adulteration test methods.
Official methods
FSSAI Manual: Pesticide Residues
Methods for pesticide residue analysis.
Official methods
FSSAI Manual: Water Analysis
Methods for drinking-water and packaged-water testing.
Official methods
FSSAI General Guidelines on Sampling for Microbiological Analysis (2022)
Microbiological sampling plans and sample handling.
Core food technology
4 resourcesCore food technology
Textbook of Food Science and Technology (ICAR)
Indian food technology baseline for processing, preservation, chemistry.
Reading suggestion
Core food technology
Food Science by B. Srilakshmi
Useful for food chemistry, nutrition, preservation.
Reading suggestion
Microbiology
Food Microbiology by M. R. Adams and M. O. Moss
Strong reference for spoilage, pathogens, fermentation.
Reading suggestion
Food engineering
Food Process Engineering and Technology by Zeki Berk
Good engineering reference for heat transfer, dehydration, freezing.
Reading suggestion
Free channels worth following for FSSAI Food Analyst.
YouTube channels
4 channelsOfficial
Food Safety and Standards Authority of India
The regulator's own videos on food safety rules, Eat Right campaigns.
Educator
Food Tech 360
Topic-wise food-tech MCQs and concept videos, with playlists for GATE XL/XE.
Educator
Food Tech Online
Previous-year-question videos for ICAR-PG food science, GATE food technology.
Coaching (free lectures)
Agriculture & GK
Long free class series for FSSAI CFSO.
Telegram channels
1 channelEducator
Food Tech 360
Exam notifications, official syllabi, admit-card and date updates.
Full topic list and section weightage FSSAI Food Analyst syllabus and exam pattern
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Tests for this exam
28 results · page 3 of 3
- Full mock test Free Hard Set 25 FSSAI Food Analyst Mock Test 25 800Marks 180 minDuration Free Start test
- Full mock test Free Medium Set 26 FSSAI Food Analyst Mock Test 26 800Marks 180 minDuration Free Start test
- Full mock test Free Hard Set 27 FSSAI Food Analyst Mock Test 27 800Marks 180 minDuration Free Start test
- Full mock test Free Hard Set 28 FSSAI Food Analyst Mock Test 28 800Marks 180 minDuration Free Start test