TNPSC Food Technology official syllabus guide
TNPSC Food Technology syllabus 0
The subject paper is degree standard and the syllabus changed between cycles: code 455 in 2024 covered ten food-technology units, while code 579 in 2026 combined Dairy Science, Dairy Technology, Food Technology and Food Processing with a stated question count per unit. The 2024 paper on this site has 195 questions spread over grains, packaging, quality, dairy, meat, fruit and vegetables and a lot of process engineering, whereas the 2026 paper has 173 questions of which well over half are dairy.
Exam pattern and marking
- Paper II subject paper: 200 questions, 300 marks, 3 hours, degree / PG degree standard, computer based test, in both the 2024 and 2026 notifications.
- That is 1.5 marks per question; the scheme table does not mention a penalty for wrong answers, and the deductions listed in the notification relate to OMR-sheet lapses such as a wrong register number or blank bubbles.
- 2026 code 579 states question counts per unit: Units I-IV and VII-X have 20 each, Unit V has 25 and Unit VI has 15 (total 200).
- Paper I (Tamil eligibility test, general studies, aptitude) is compulsory and the final ranking uses Part B of Paper I plus Paper II, 450 marks in all.
- Question language for this subject paper: English.
Food technology (2024, code 455) and dairy plus food technology (2026, code 579) syllabus
2024, code 455, Unit I: Principles of food technology
3 topics- Food spoilage, microbial contamination, foodborne illness, water activity
- Preservation by heat, pasteurisation, canning, drying, freezing, freeze drying, fermentation, irradiation, additives
- Aseptic, hurdle, high pressure, pulsed electric field, ohmic and other non-thermal or alternate-thermal methods
2024, code 455, Unit II: Heat transfer, refrigeration and cold chain
2 topics- Conduction, convection and radiation, Fourier's law, composite walls, insulation, laws of radiation
- Refrigeration cycles, components, refrigerants, absorption systems, cooling load
2024, code 455, Unit III: Food grain processing
2 topics- Structure and composition of wheat, rice, pulses, oilseeds, barley, corn and millets
- Milling, parboiling, malting, corn products, oil extraction and refining, vanaspati, protein concentrates
2024, code 455, Unit IV: Fruits and vegetable processing
2 topics- Post harvest handling, cool chambers, minimal processing, canning process time, drying
- Juices and beverages, frozen products, tea, coffee, cocoa, spice processing, oleoresins
2024, code 455, Unit V: Technology of milk and milk products
2 topics- Dairy plant operations, special milks, fermented milks
- Cream, butter, ghee, cheese, condensed and powdered milk, ice cream, traditional products, dairy sanitation and standards
2024, code 455, Unit VI: Meat, fish and poultry products
2 topics- Meat structure, slaughter, rigor, curing, smoking, sausage making
- Egg structure, quality, preservation and products; fish handling, canning and freezing
2024, code 455, Unit VII: Food process equipment design
2 topics- Materials of construction, stresses, storage vessels, agitators
- Heat exchangers, evaporators, dryers, crystallisers, freezers, conveyors, extruders
2024, code 455, Unit VIII: Food grain storage
2 topics- Storage systems, stored-grain insects and spoilage, respiration and moisture changes
- Silos and structures, aeration, fumigation
2024, code 455, Unit IX: Food packaging technology
2 topics- Plastic, paper, metal and glass packaging and their testing
- Filling and sealing machines, MAP, aseptic, active and intelligent packaging, retort
2024, code 455, Unit X: Food quality management
2 topics- Quality control tools, HACCP, TQM, Codex, ISO 9000, FSSAI and food laws
- Plant sanitation, adulteration, sensory evaluation, non-destructive testing
2026, code 579, Unit I: Dairy science (20 questions)
2 topics- Indian dairy industry, Operation Flood, milk composition, platform tests, procurement and pricing
- Cooperative society operation, chilling, transport, raw milk FSSAI specifications
2026, code 579, Unit II: Processing of fluid milk (20 questions)
2 topics- Standardisation (Pearson square), homogenisation, thermal processing, defects of market milk
- Special milks, UHT, CIP and sanitation, distribution
2026, code 579, Unit III: Fat rich dairy products (20 questions)
2 topics- Cream, butter, ghee and butter oil, theory of churning, overrun, defects
- Margarine, spreads, special butters
2026, code 579, Unit IV: Ice cream and frozen desserts (20 questions)
2 topics- Mix composition and calculation, stabilisers and emulsifiers, freezing and hardening
- Overrun, defects, plant hygiene
2026, code 579, Unit V: Traditional Indian and fermented dairy products (25 questions)
2 topics- Khoa and khoa sweets, channa and paneer, shrikhand, kulfi
- Dahi, yogurt, lassi, cheese technology and processed cheese
2026, code 579, Unit VI: Condensed and dried milks (15 questions)
2 topics- Evaporated and sweetened condensed milk, heat stability and defects
- Whole and skim milk powders, infant and malted foods, whey and other powders
2026, code 579, Unit VII: Dairy chemistry (20 questions)
2 topics- Lactose, milk proteins, milk lipids, fat constants and minerals
- Sampling and estimation methods
2026, code 579, Unit VIII: Microbiology of milk and milk products (20 questions)
2 topics- Microflora, spoilage organisms, pathogens, indicator organisms, biofilms
- Quality and safety systems: FSSAI, ISO, HACCP, GMP, ICMSF sampling plans
2026, code 579, Unit IX: Dairy process engineering (20 questions)
2 topics- Preservation methods, non-thermal and alternate-thermal technologies
- Refrigeration, boilers, steam, compressors
2026, code 579, Unit X: Dairy process equipment design and automation (20 questions)
2 topics- Heat exchangers, evaporators, dryers, separators, extruders, fermenter design
- Filling and packaging machinery, MAP and aseptic packaging, PLC and SCADA automation
Source: Syllabus, Food Technology / Food Processing code 455 (TNPSC) ↗. Source: Notification No. 9/2024, scheme and syllabus annexure ↗. Source: Notification No. 09/2026, scheme and code 579 syllabus (copy hosted on tnjobzone.com) ↗. Checked 2026-10-02.
Section weight by year
| Paper | Food Technology / Food Processing | Total | Minutes |
|---|---|---|---|
| TNPSC Dairy & Food Technology 2026 | 259.5 173 Q | 259.5 | 180 |
| TNPSC Food Technology 2024 | 292.5 195 Q | 292.5 | 180 |
Changes in examination pattern
Compared across past papers. Not an official announcement.
| Change | Compared papers | Before | After | What changed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | TNPSC Food Technology 2024 → TNPSC Dairy & Food Technology 2026 | 195 q 292 marks 180 min 1 section | 173 q 259 marks 180 min 1 section |
Questions
195 → 173
Marks
292 → 259
Dropped
Food Technology / Food Processing
Added
Dairy Science, Dairy Technology, Food Technology, Food Processing
|
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