HPSC Food Safety Officer Recruitment 2026: Apply Online for 45 FSO Group-B Posts (Advt No. 25/2026)
HPSC FSO Recruitment 2026 Notification Released: Haryana Public Service Commission (HPSC) has officially published Advt No. 25/2026 inviting online applications for 45 Food Safety Officer (FSO) Group-B positions in the Food & Drugs Administration Department, Haryana. Eligible candidates holding degrees in Food Technology, Dairy Technology, Biotechnology, Agricultural Science, Medicine, or related fields can register online from 28th September 2026 to 19th October 2026 at hpsc.gov.in.
| Event Timeline | Dates / Details |
|---|---|
| Date of Official Publication | 19.09.2026 |
| Online Registration Opening Date | 28.09.2026 |
| Online Application Closing Date | 19.10.2026 (upto 05:00 PM) |
| Last Date for Deposit of Application Fee | 19.10.2026 (upto 05:00 PM) |
| Crucial Date for Age & Eligibility Calculation | 19.10.2026 |
| Screening / Subject Knowledge Test Date | To Be Announced Soon |
The Haryana Public Service Commission (HPSC) is conducting this direct recruitment drive to fill 45 vacancies of Food Safety Officer (Group-B) in the Food & Drugs Administration Department, Haryana. The selection is governed by the state Food & Drugs Administration Department Service Rules. Candidates selected for these posts will perform critical surveillance, inspection, regulatory sampling, and food safety enforcement under the Food Safety and Standards Act across Haryana.
Candidates must fulfill the following mandatory qualifications on or before the closing date (19.10.2026):
-
Basic Degree Requirement: Bachelor's degree, Master's degree, or Doctorate degree from a recognized University or Institution in any of the following disciplines:
- Food Technology Disciplines: Food Engineering, Food Engineering & Technology, Food Processing & Preservation, Food Processing Technology, Food Technology & Management, Food Biotechnology, Food Plant Operations Management, Food Process Engineering & Management, Food Processing, Food Safety & Quality Management, or Process & Food Engineering.
- Allied Streams: Dairy Technology, Biotechnology, or Oil Technology.
- Agricultural Science Disciplines: Agriculture, Agriculture Engineering, Biotechnology, Dairy Technology, Fisheries, Food Technology, Food Nutrition and Dietetics, or Horticulture.
- Science & Medical Disciplines: Veterinary Sciences, Bio-Chemistry, Microbiology, Chemistry, or Medicine from a recognized University.
- Medical Degrees: MBBS, BDS, BHMS, BUMS, BSMS, BAMS, or Bachelor of Sowa Rigpa Medicine & Surgery, or any other equivalent qualification recognized by the Food Authority with prior Central Government approval.
- Language Requirement: Hindi or Sanskrit as one of the subjects in Matriculation or Hindi as one of the subjects in Higher Education.
- Mandatory Training: Candidates must successfully complete training specified by the Food Authority in an approved institution (Note: This training will be provided after appointment, following which official notification as FSO will be issued).
- Financial Conflict Condition: No individual holding any financial interest in the manufacture, import, or sale of any article of food is eligible to be appointed as Food Safety Officer under the Food Safety & Standard Rules, 2011.
- Minimum Age: 18 years
- Maximum Age: 42 years
Upper Age Relaxations (Haryana Domicile Candidates):
| Category | Age Relaxation Admissible |
|---|---|
| Scheduled Castes (DSC / OSC) of Haryana | 5 Years |
| Backward Classes (BC-A / BC-B) of Haryana | 5 Years |
| Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) | 5 Years (+5 additional years if SC/BC/EWS, max 52 years) |
| Wives of Disabled Military Personnel, Widows, Legally Divorced, Judicially Separated & Unmarried Women | 5 Years |
| Ex-Servicemen (ESM / ECO / SSCO) | Service period rendered + 3 Years |
| Haryana Ad-hoc / Contract / Work-charged / Daily Wages Employees | Equal to completed service period on equivalent post (Max up to 52 years) |
Fee must be submitted online using Net Banking, Debit Card, or Credit Card before 05:00 PM on 19.10.2026:
| Candidate Category | Fee (INR) |
|---|---|
| Unreserved (General) Category Male Candidates & DESM (UR) of Haryana / Other States | ₹ 1000/- |
| Reserved Categories of Haryana (OSC, DSC, BC-A NCL, BC-B NCL, ESM, EWS) & All Women Candidates | ₹ 250/- |
| DESM Candidates of Haryana belonging to Vertical Reserved Categories | ₹ 250/- |
| Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) of Haryana (Min 40% Disability) | NIL (Exempted) |
| Category Code & Name | Total Vacancies |
|---|---|
| Unreserved (UR / General) | 22 |
| Deprived Scheduled Castes (DSC) | 05 |
| Other Scheduled Castes (OSC) | 05 (Includes 01 backlog/shortfall post) |
| Backward Classes - Block A (BC-A) | 05 |
| Backward Classes - Block B (BC-B) | 03 |
| Economically Weaker Section (EWS) | 05 |
| Total Posts | 45 |
| Horizontal Reservation: ESM (General) | 02 |
| Horizontal Reservation: PwBD (Haryana) | 02 [01 Low Vision (LV); 01 Deaf & Hard of Hearing (D,HH)] |
Selected candidates will be appointed as Group-B officers in the Food & Drugs Administration Department, Haryana:
- Pay Band: ₹ 9,300 - ₹ 34,800 + Grade Pay ₹ 4,200/-
- Functional Pay Level: FPL-6 (Cell-1)
- Initial Basic Pay: ₹ 35,400/- per month
- Allowances: In addition to basic pay, appointees receive DA, HRA, Medical Allowances, and other perks as per Haryana State Government rules.
Candidates must follow the compulsory 4-stage application procedure outlined by HPSC:
- Step 1: Registration: Visit the official portal
hpsc.gov.inand complete initial registration using an active Mobile Number and Email ID to generate a Unique Registration Number (URN). - Step 2: Particulars Filling: Log in using credentials and fill in academic qualifications, address, personal details, identity information, and category data accurately.
- Step 3: Online Fee Payment: Make the category-wise application fee payment using Net Banking, Debit Card, or Credit Card.
- Step 4: Print, Sign & Final Upload: Print the filled application form, verify every detail carefully, put physical signature on the printed copy, and upload the signed PDF/document along with all necessary certificates. (Note: Applications without uploaded signed copies are rejected automatically).
| Description | Direct Link |
|---|---|
| Apply Online Portal (Direct Link) | Apply Online |
| Download Official Notification (PDF) | Download PDF |
| HPSC Official Website | Visit HPSC |
The selection mechanism follows a structured multi-stage framework:
- Stage 1: Screening Test: Objective multiple-choice test (held when candidate volume is high) to shortlist candidates.
- Stage 2: Subject Knowledge Test (SKT): Detailed technical evaluation focused on core domain knowledge.
- Stage 3: Interview / Viva-Voce: Personal interview assessing personality, administrative aptitude, and subject command.
- Stage 4: Document Verification & Medical Examination: Verification of original certificates followed by medical fitness clearance and departmental training.
Overview of the standard HPSC Group-B examination structure:
| Exam Stage | Question Type | Total Questions / Marks | Duration | Marking Scheme |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Screening Test | Objective Type (MCQs) | 100 Questions / 100 Marks | 2 Hours | Negative marking (0.25 mark penalty for wrong answers) |
| Subject Knowledge Test (SKT) | Descriptive / Technical | 150 Marks | 3 Hours | Qualifying marks threshold as prescribed by HPSC |
| Interview / Viva-Voce | Oral Personality Evaluation | 12.5% Weightage | - | Final merit compiled combining SKT and Interview scores |
- Food Chemistry & Nutrition: Structure and properties of carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, enzymes, vitamins, minerals; water activity; food additives, contaminants, toxins, and anti-nutritional factors.
- Food Microbiology: Food spoilage mechanisms, intrinsic & extrinsic factors, microbial growth curves, foodborne pathogens, microbiological examination of food, fermentation, and preservation techniques.
- Food Processing & Preservation Technology: Thermal processing, canning, drying, dehydration, refrigeration, freezing, irradiation, membrane processing, packaging materials, and shelf-life determination.
- Food Laws, Standards & Regulations: Food Safety and Standards Act (FSSA) 2006, FSSAI regulations, rules, packaging and labeling standards, CODEX Alimentarius, WTO/SPS measures, HACCP, GMP, GHP, and ISO safety management standards.
- General Awareness & Mental Ability: General awareness, Haryana history, culture, geography, governance, logical reasoning, numerical ability, and analytical comprehension.
- Command the Core Domain: Allocate at least 70% of study time to Food Technology, Chemistry, Microbiology, and FSSA regulations.
- Study the FSSA 2006 Act: Review sections, enforcement powers of Food Safety Officers, penalty clauses, and sampling protocols under the Act.
- Solve Previous Papers: Practice previous years' screening test papers from HPSC and other state PSC FSO exams to understand question trends.
- Focus on Haryana GK: Dedicate weekly revision hours to Haryana state geography, economy, current developments, and public policies.
- Create Short Reference Notes: Maintain concise formula sheets for food science terms, biological names, and legal provisions for quick revision.
Q1. When will online applications start for HPSC FSO Recruitment 2026?
The online registration portal opens on 28th September 2026 and closes on 19th October 2026 at 05:00 PM.
Q2. How many vacancies are advertised under Advt No. 25/2026?
A total of 45 Group-B vacancies of Food Safety Officer in the Food & Drugs Administration Department, Haryana have been announced.
Q3. What is the mandatory final step after submitting the application online?
Candidates must take a printout of the filled application, review it, sign it physically, and upload the signed document back onto the portal before the deadline.
Q4. What is the age limit for HPSC Food Safety Officer posts?
Applicants must be between 18 and 42 years of age as on the closing date (19.10.2026), with age relaxations applicable for reserved categories of Haryana.

