FSSAI Unit 1 MCQ & PYQ: High-Yielding Questions with Interactive Answers for FSO Exam

Unit 1: Ultimate Question Bank

FSSAI Unit 1 MCQ & PYQ: 20 High-Yielding Exam Questions Explained

Master the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 with interactive practice questions & detailed legal explanations.

🎯 Target: FSSAI Central FSO & TO

📋 Questions: 10 MCQs + 10 PYQs

⏱️ Format: Interactive (Click to Show)

Studying theory gives you knowledge, but practicing questions gives you accuracy. In the FSSAI Central Food Safety Officer (CFSO) exam, time management is critical: you must solve 120 questions in 180 minutes. Since incorrect answers carry a negative marking penalty of -1 mark, guessing blindly can quickly undermine your score.

Practicing specific Food Safety Officer exam questions helps you learn the exact phrasing used in the exam. It helps you recognize trap answers, remember section numbers under pressure, and identify which sub-topics examiners favor year after year. Let’s dive into a comprehensive collection of practice questions and authentic past paper questions to sharpen your test-taking skills.

How to Use This Article for Revision

💡 Step-by-Step Interactive Revision Strategy:

• Read the question and select your option carefully.
• Click on the "Show Answer & Explanation" button below each question to verify your response.
• Analyze the detailed explanation and write down any important section numbers.
• If you need a quick theory refresher, use the theory link below to study first.

⚠️ Have you read the theory yet?

Before jumping into questions, build your foundations with our comprehensive guide.

Read Theory of Food Safety Act 2006

10 Important MCQs from Unit 1 with Interactive Answers

Q1. Under which section of the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 are the powers of a Food Safety Officer explicitly defined?

A) Section 22

B) Section 31

C) Section 38

D) Section 47

👁️ Show Answer & Explanation

Correct Answer: C (Section 38)

Explanation: Section 38 of the FSSA 2006 defines the powers of an FSO, including the authority to draw samples, enter and inspect facilities, and seize non-compliant products.

Q2. When an FSO takes a sample of food for analysis, into how many parts must it be divided?

A) Two parts

B) Three parts

C) Four parts

D) Five parts

👁️ Show Answer & Explanation

Correct Answer: C (Four parts)

Explanation: Section 47 of the Act mandates that an FSO must divide every collected food sample into four distinct parts for distribution to different authorities.

Q3. What is the maximum financial penalty for manufacturing or selling sub-standard food under Section 51?

A) ₹1,00,000

B) ₹3,00,000

C) ₹5,00,000

D) ₹10,00,000

👁️ Show Answer & Explanation

Correct Answer: C (₹5,00,000)

Explanation: Section 51 states that any person who manufactures, sells, or imports sub-standard food items is liable to a financial penalty of up to ₹5 Lakhs.

Q4. Operating a food business without obtaining a valid FSSAI license carries a penalty of up to 6 months imprisonment and a fine of up to:

A) ₹1,00,000

B) ₹2,00,000

C) ₹5,00,000

D) ₹10,00,000

👁️ Show Answer & Explanation

Correct Answer: C (₹5,00,000)

Explanation: Under Section 63 of the Act, running a food business without a required license can result in up to six months in prison and a fine of up to ₹5 Lakhs.

Q5. Which form is used by a Food Safety Officer to give formal advance notice to an FBO before drawing a sample?

A) Form I

B) Form VA

C) Form VI

D) Form X

👁️ Show Answer & Explanation

Correct Answer: B (Form VA)

Explanation: According to the FSS Rules 2011, the FSO must issue an advance written notice using Form VA to officially inform the FBO of the sample collection.

Q6. What is the Act Number of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006?

A) Act No. 24 of 2005

B) Act No. 34 of 2006

C) Act No. 14 of 2007

D) Act No. 45 of 2006

👁️ Show Answer & Explanation

Correct Answer: B (Act No. 34 of 2006)

Explanation: The FSS Act is officially registered as Act Number 34 of 2006, having been enacted by the Parliament in the 57th Year of the Republic of India.

Q7. On which exact date was the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 signed/enacted by the President of India?

A) 15th August 2006

B) 23rd August 2006

C) 5th September 2006

D) 2nd October 2006

👁️ Show Answer & Explanation

Correct Answer: B (23rd August 2006)

Explanation: The FSS Act 2006 received the assent of the President of India on August 23, 2006, and was published in the Gazette on the next day.

Q8. Under Section 13 of the FSS Act, who is responsible for establishing Scientific Panels?

A) Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

B) Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)

C) State Government

D) Central Advisory Committee

👁️ Show Answer & Explanation

Correct Answer: B (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India)

Explanation: Under Section 13, the Food Authority (FSSAI) has the power to establish scientific panels consisting of independent scientific experts to look into additives, contaminants, and labeling.

Q9. What is the minimum percentage of compliance required for a food cluster to be certified as a "Clean Street Food Hub" post pre-audit by FSSAI?

A) 50%

B) 75%

C) 80%

D) 90%

👁️ Show Answer & Explanation

Correct Answer: C (80%)

Explanation: Under FSSAI's Clean Street Food Hub initiative, a food street cluster must achieve at least 80% compliance in the final audit to earn the certification.

Q10. Under Section 44 of the FSS Act, 2006, FSSAI is empowered to recognize an Organization/Agency for which of the following activities?

A) Packaging Design

B) Food Safety Audit

C) Price Regulation

D) Direct Farming Licensing

👁️ Show Answer & Explanation

Correct Answer: B (Food Safety Audit)

Explanation: Section 44 empowers FSSAI to accredit external auditing agencies to carry out food safety audits of Food Business Operators (FBOs).

10 FSSAI Unit 1 Previous Year Questions (PYQs) with Interactive Answers

PYQ 2019

Q11. Which old Act was repealed upon the enforcement of the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006?

A) The Essential Commodities Act 1955

B) The Prevention of Food Adulteration Act 1954

C) The Consumer Protection Act 1986

D) The Environment Protection Act 1986

👁️ Show Answer & Explanation

Correct Answer: B (PFA Act 1954)

Explanation: The Prevention of Food Adulteration Act 1954 was the primary law repealed and consolidated into the FSSA 2006, along with seven other commodity-specific orders.

PYQ 2022

Q12. The annual turnover limit requiring a basic FSSAI "Registration" instead of a "License" for a petty food vendor is:

A) Up to ₹5 Lakhs

B) Up to ₹12 Lakhs

C) Up to ₹20 Lakhs

D) Up to ₹50 Lakhs

👁️ Show Answer & Explanation

Correct Answer: B (Up to ₹12 Lakhs)

Explanation: The FSS (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations state that petty food businesses with an annual turnover under ₹12 Lakhs only require a basic registration certificate.

PYQ 2023

Q13. If a food product is sold with false or misleading health claims on its packaging, it is legally classified as:

A) Sub-standard Food

B) Unsafe Food

C) Misbranded Food

D) Proprietary Food

👁️ Show Answer & Explanation

Correct Answer: C (Misbranded Food)

Explanation: Section 3(1)(zf) defines misbranded food as any food item accompanied by labels that contain false, deceptive, or misleading claims regarding its quality or benefits.

PYQ 2021

Q14. For the purposes of the FSS Act, 2006, which of the following is recognized as the Administrative Ministry?

A) Ministry of Food Processing Industries

B) Ministry of Consumer Affairs

C) Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

D) Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare

👁️ Show Answer & Explanation

Correct Answer: C (Ministry of Health and Family Welfare)

Explanation: The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is the administrative parent ministry responsible for overseeing and implementing FSSAI standards and rules.

PYQ 2019

Q15. Under Section 32 of the FSS Act, within how many days can an FBO appeal against an Improvement Notice served by an FSO?

A) 7 Days

B) 15 Days

C) 30 Days

D) 45 Days

👁️ Show Answer & Explanation

Correct Answer: B (15 Days)

Explanation: Under Section 32, any person aggrieved by an improvement notice may appeal to the Designated Officer within 15 days from the date of the notice.

PYQ 2022

Q16. What is the status/rank of the Chairperson of FSSAI compared to the Government of India hierarchy?

A) Joint Secretary to GoI

B) Secretary to GoI

C) Minister of State

D) Cabinet Secretary

👁️ Show Answer & Explanation

Correct Answer: B (Secretary to GoI)

Explanation: Under Section 5 of the FSS Act, the Chairperson of FSSAI is appointed by the Central Government and holds a rank equivalent to that of a Secretary to the Government of India.

PYQ 2021

Q17. Which of the following is NOT classified under "vertical issues" handled by FSSAI's Scientific Panels?

A) Milk and Milk Products

B) Food Additives and Flavorings

C) Water and Beverages

D) Sweets & Confectionery

👁️ Show Answer & Explanation

Correct Answer: B (Food Additives and Flavorings)

Explanation: "Vertical issues" deal with specific product categories (like milk, sweets, water). In contrast, "Horizontal issues" deal with umbrella concepts like food additives, packaging, contaminants, and labeling that apply across all food groups.

PYQ 2023

Q18. As per FSSAI regulations, what is the mandatory frequency of a Food Safety Supervisor in licensed establishments under FoSTaC?

A) At least 1 supervisor for every 10 food handlers

B) At least 1 supervisor for every 25 food handlers

C) At least 1 supervisor for every 50 food handlers

D) One supervisor per retail store regardless of size

👁️ Show Answer & Explanation

Correct Answer: B (At least 1 supervisor for every 25 food handlers)

Explanation: Under the Food Safety Training and Certification (FoSTaC) program, all licensed food businesses must employ at least one certified food safety supervisor for every 25 food handlers on their premises.

PYQ 2022

Q19. Under the FSS Act 2006, the term "Adulterant" refers to any material which is or could be employed for making food:

A) Unsafe only

B) Sub-standard only

C) Either unsafe or sub-standard

D) Misbranded only

👁️ Show Answer & Explanation

Correct Answer: C (Either unsafe or sub-standard)

Explanation: Section 3(1)(a) of the FSS Act defines an adulterant as any material which is or could be employed for making food unsafe or sub-standard.

PYQ 2019

Q20. An accredited Food Safety Auditor must forward their final audit report to the Food Authority within how many days of conducting the audit?

A) 7 Days

B) 15 Days

C) 30 Days

D) 45 Days

👁️ Show Answer & Explanation

Correct Answer: B (15 Days)

Explanation: Food Safety Auditors are mandated to submit their completed audits to the Food Authority (FSSAI) within 15 days of finishing the assessment.

Most Repeated Topics in Unit 1: PYQ Analysis

Core Exam Topic	Average Annual Questions	Most Frequently Cited Sections
FSO Powers & Sampling Protocol	4-5 Questions	Section 38, Section 47, Form VA
Offences and Financial Fines	3-4 Questions	Section 51, 52, 59, 63
Turnover & Licensing Thresholds	2-3 Questions	Petty vs. State vs. Central Limits
Legal Terms and Definitions	2 Questions	Sec 3 (Unsafe, Misbranded, Adulterant)

⚡ Want to study the complete legal clauses?

Read the deep-dive theoretical notes with real-world examples in Article 1.

Read Theory of Food Safety Act 2006

Conclusion

Succeeding in the technical sections of the FSSAI exam requires both memorization and structured practice. Regularly testing your knowledge with these high-quality interactive MCQs helps reinforce complex regulatory provisions and builds a sound strategy for the actual exam day. Keep revising, analyze your errors, and target consistent improvement!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1: Is there a negative marking penalty for incorrect answers in the FSSAI FSO exam?

Yes. The standard FSSAI computer-based examination follows a marking scheme where each correct answer awards +4 marks, while an incorrect answer results in a deduction of -1 mark. Unanswered questions receive 0 marks.

Q2: Which section of the Act addresses running a food business without an official license?

Section 63 handles this violation. It establishes that operating a food business without the required FSSAI license can carry a penalty of up to six months in prison and a fine of up to ₹5 Lakhs.

Q3: Where can I find authentic past papers for the FSSAI Central FSO exam?

Authentic papers are published on the official FSSAI website under the "Careers" archives. You can also access curated collections using study resources like our FSSAI previous year question paper toolkits.

Q4: What is the main structural difference between FSS Rules and FSS Regulations?

FSS Rules (2011) focus on administrative frameworks, court procedures, and the duties of officers like the FSO. FSS Regulations (2011) are technical guidelines that define physical food standards, additive limits, and labeling rules.

Q5: How many days does an FBO have to appeal an FSO's Improvement Notice?

Under Section 32 of the Act, an FBO who wishes to contest an official Improvement Notice can file an appeal with the Designated Officer within 15 days from the date the notice was served.

Disclaimer: This article is prepared strictly for educational purposes to assist aspirants with FSSAI exam preparation. For official legal proceedings or statutory citation, please refer directly to the authoritative FSSAI Gazette notifications and official government legal texts.