After the declaration of the results of CFSO and TO, conducted by FSSAI, many of you had a common query regarding its preparation. So I have come up with a new blog on the topic: “How to prepare for FSSAI Central Food Safety Officer (CFSO) and Technical Officer (TO)”. Before starting I would like to clarify that both CFSO and TO have a common preliminary syllabus as well as a common mains syllabus. There had been no interview. The pay level of both posts is also the same. The detailed advertisement of the post specifying the eligibility and syllabus of Prelims can be accessed from the website of FSSAI. Relevant pages have been attached to the blog.
Educational and other qualifications required for CFSO and TO:
Detailed Advertisement (FSSAI Website link)
Preparation of these exams is a bit different from other Food Tech exams because it requires more focus on the current topics, acts, regulations, and initiatives than on the static portions. In addition to this, the preparation of aptitude sections like quantitative aptitude and reasoning is also needed.
CFSO & TO Prelims Syllabus (Google Drive) or see the detailed advertisement above
CFSO & TO Written exam syllabus (Google Drive)
First, start with the Food Safety & Standards Act, 2006. There are 12 chapters, 101 sections, and 2 schedules in it. It is highly suggested to learn as many important sections as you can. For example, the Establishment of FSSAI comes under Section 4. Reading the FSSA, 2006 from cover to cover, you will yourself get to know what is important in that, like the structure of the Food Authority, Offences, and Penalties, etc. Next move onto the FSSAI website, make it a habit to visit the site daily and explore it as much as you can. The site in itself is very resourceful, the only precaution needed is to be systematic. Several manuals, training documents, newsletters, Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), etc. are available on the website. Going through it will surely create a difference.
Go through the various regulations of FSSAI. The regulation of licensing and registration being one of the most important needs special attention. In recent times, FSSAI has come up with a number of important initiatives. Go through them thoroughly, some of them being FoSTaC, RUCO, BHOG, etc. Now, coming to the static portion of food tech subject knowledge, the majority of you must be from the Food Tech background so you already have factual knowledge about Food Tech MCQs. You can refer to some of the basic books like those by Potter, Manay, Sukumar De, Frazier, Meyer, etc. You can also refer to “Objective Food Science” by Sanjeev Kumar Sharma Sir.
Lastly, pay attention to the aptitude portion. The majority of them are doable without any preparation but you should prepare beforehand to be able to solve them in very little time. Some of the important sections are Clock, Calendar, Time and Work, Speed, Time and Distance, etc. it would be better if you memorize squares up to 30 and cubes up to 15 to boost Your calculation speed. Lastly, I would say, never underestimate any section. Each marks matters! I missed the CFSO seat by just 0.375 marks but you shouldn’t.
Best wishes to you all. State connected!
