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All India Cadre of Safe Food Business Professionals

Young Talent Search (Super 100 Selection) - Cadre of 2022

A noble initiative by NIFTEM and NFSI to look for the future leaders of food safety in India.

Enrollments closed for Cadre of 2022

Download Brochure

Program Overview

The All India Cadre of Safe Food Business Professionals is a novel initiative to build an exclusive cadre of safe food business leaders in India It is a joint programme conceived and designed by experts from two leading institutions of the country, National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management (NIFTEM) and Nestlé Food Safety Institute ( NFSI) to recognize and enhance the competence of food safety professionals resulting in better trade.

Benefit to Applicants

    • The cadre program will identify, mentor and certify talented professionals in the area of food safety for promoting leadership through competence enhancement and professionalism.
    • Create a pool of resources ready to be absorbed by government departments, private companies and other national and international organizations.
    • Better opportunities and rapid career growth.
    • Recognition and certification of talent aimed at leadership in safe food business.

Benefit to Industry, Regulators and International Organizations

    • Creation of a pool of national talent for the food sector
    • Improve opportunities in food businesses globally, food regulators, FAO, WHO, ITC, World Bank, etc
    • Food businesses have a ready pool of certified safe food business professionals
    • Export enhancement of food products

Benefit to Nation

    • Building image of India as a safe food destination at the global level
    • Promote food safety in the region and reduce disease burden on the governments
    • Better trade in safe food
    • Market access enhancement
    • Prevention of food rejection and wastage

Selection Process - A 3 Step Process

Annually, about 100 candidates / professionals shall qualify and accede to the cadre and shall be awarded a Certificate of Accession to the cadre at a special function. After the selection process candidates go through a Business Leadership Enhancement Programme (BLEP). Get more details.

Identification

There will be two test as under
  • Online objective test
  • Online subjective test
Online Objective type Test
  • Technical Module (about 75% questions): food technology, food chemistry, food microbiology, food analysis, nutrition dietetics, public health, biochemistry, food biotechnology, food hygiene food safety, food engineering, quality management systems, private standards, risk analysis, organic products, WTO/ SPS/ TBT, Codex/ IPPC/ OIE/ ISO, other national and international organizations (governmental/ non-governmental), broad understanding of food laws of South Asian Region/ ASEAN countries/ EU/ USA/ Canada/ Japan/ Australia/ New Zealand, etc.
  • Non - Technical Module (about 25% questions): general aptitude, arithmetical reasoning, analytical skills, awareness, current affairs, writing skills, communication skills, English vocabulary and grammar, general understanding of office computer work, and business management & business ethics.
  • Top 500 candidates will be short-listed for the subjective-type written test and a list of such candidates will be displayed on the websites of NFSI and NIFTEM. An email will also be sent to the short-listed candidates.
  • A computer generated Certificate of Participation will be emailed to the candidates after submission of answers in the Objective Type exam
Online Subjective type Test
  • All the short-listed candidates shall be given an online subjective type written test of three hours in order to assess their writing and presentation skills.
  • The areas covered by this test will be the same as for the objective type test.
  • Top 250 (50% of 500) candidates will be short-listed for the next stage and a list of such candidates will be displayed on the websites of NFSI and NIFTEM. An email will also be sent to the candidates short-listed for next stage.

*Implementation of the programme is at the sole discretion of NIFTEM and NFSI.

Click here for Detailed Syllabus

Mentoring

  • The short-listed candidates shall be given training in select areas for a period of 3-5 working days by virtual mode or at few locations in India depending upon the concentration of these candidates. The objective is to bring all the short-listed candidates at par with each other for competing during the Selection stage.
  • Participation in this training is mandatory to be eligible for the next stage of the selection process

Final Selection Process

The selection process shall be completed in two steps, namely, Group Discussion; and Interview as given below:

  • All the 250 short-listed candidates will be invited for a Group Discussion and Interview before a panel of independent observers. Six to eight candidates will be seated on a table for Group Discussion and invited to discuss an issue related to food science/ food business/ trade current affairs ; All these candidates will also be invited to present themselves individually before an Interview Board.
  • The idea is to evaluate the thinking process, articulation of thoughts, group participation, interaction capabilities, ability to suggest solutions during a group meeting as well as to evaluate how the candidates participate in a meeting, how are their collaborative skills, confidence levels and how they carry themselves during the entire duration of their presence at the premises Eventually, the objective is to evaluate their leadership skills in food businesses.
  • About 100 candidates will be finally selected for the final stage of leadership orientation The selection will be based on their consolidated score of the group discussion (60% weightage) and interview (40% weightage) A list of such selected professionals will be displayed on the websites of NIFTEM and NFSI. An email will also be sent to successful candidates.

Post-Selection Business Leasership Enhancement Programme

  • A Business Leadership Enhancement Programme ( of a duration of 4 weeks will be organized at NIFTEM for the selected candidates for enhancement of their competence in safe food business and leadership It will focus on the best practices for food safety and regulatory aspects of food in the South Asian/ ASEAN/ the EU/ Americas/ Oceania regions It will also focus on global trade including WTO, Codex, IPPC and OIE, presentation skills and negotiating skills, motivation, etc
  • Participation in the BLEP will be mandatory for all the selected candidates and will be implemented as a paid programme funded either by the candidates themselves or sponsored by organizations Financial assistance/ scholarships by NIFTEM/ NFSI/ other organizations based on agreed criteria could be considered
Accession to the cadre of 2022
  • After completion of BLEP, a Certificate of Accession to the Cadre of 2022 will be presented to members of the Cadre at a special function where several senior Govt officials, representatives of the food industry, international organizations and others will be invited
  • A mention will be made of the top three members in their certificate

Who Can Compete

If you are a science graduate or appearing in the final semester of graduation (science stream) or you are a working professional in the food sector and are 32 years or less as on 01 July 2022 (3 years relaxation in age for women, OBC and SC / ST candidates), you are invited to compete.

Application Fees non-refundable

General Category: INR 1,500

OBC Category: INR 1,250

SC/ST Category: INR 1,000

Timelines

Start of Applications 23rd April 2022

Close of Applications 30th June 2022

Mock Tests-Objective type (Self practice) 1st – 31st July 2022

Online Exam (Objective type) 25th September - 04th October 2022 - four time slots per day

Declaration of results (Objective exam) 14th October 2022

Mock Tests-Subjective type (Self practice) 21st – 31st October 2022

Online Test (Subjective type) 12th & 13th November 2022 – four time slots per day

Declaration of results (Subjective exam) 10th December 2022

Online Mentoring (5 days) 26th – 30th December 2022 and 2nd – 6th Jan 2023

Group Discussion & Interviews 18th – 25th January 2023

Final Selection list 31st January 2023

BLEP Training (at NIFTEM) 13th - 25th February 2023

Ceremony for Accession to the Cadre of 2022 April 2023 (Week 3 or 4)

Current Stage

Meet the Organizing Committee

Patron

Dr. Chindi Vasudevappa

Vice Chancellor, NIFTEM

Advisor

Mr. Sanjay Dave

Former Chairperson, Codex Alimentarius Commission and Former Advisor, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)

Convenors

Dr. Narinder Hooda

COE, NIFTEM

Mr. Jagdeep Marahar

Head of Nestle R&D Centre, India Pvt. Ltd.

Dr. Komal Chauhan

HOD, Dept. of FST, NIFTEM

Coordinators

Dr. Neetu Kumra Taneja

Assistant Professor, Dept. of BAS, NIFTEM

Dr. Shrinivasa Bhat

Head of Nestlé Food Safety Institute

Er. Kumar Rahul

Assistant Professor, Dept. of BAS, NIFTEM

Co-Coordinators

Dr. Shumaila Jan

Assistant Professor, Dept. of FST, NIFTEM

Dr. Mansha Rafiq

Assistant Professor, Dept. of FST, NIFTEM

IT Team

Mr. Sandeep Yadav

NIFTEM

Mr. Nishant Kumar

NIFTEM

Examination Team

Mr. Manoj Kumar

NIFTEM

Mr. Pramod Kumar

NIFTEM

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the purpose of creating the Cadre ?

The purpose is to create a pool of best experts in food safety to lead food businesses anywhere in the world.

  • Through mentoring, further training and certification as a talented safe food business professional, you have excellent opportunities for personal growth;
  • As a certified competent individual, you are ready to be absorbed by government departments, private companies and other national and international organizations;
  • Better opportunities and rapid career growth;
  • Enhance your leadership skills in safe food business

As far as we know, there is no such programme being implemented by any other institution in India or abroad.

Nestle Food Safety Institute is a premier institute in India, with global headquarters in Switzerland; and NIFTEM is the only institution in India that is recognised as the Institute of National Importance in the area of Food Science and Technology. Both the leading institutions have collaborated to implement such a unique programme.

The competition is open only to science stream (Food Tech./ Food Engg. / Nutrition / Microbiology / Chemistry / Zoology / Botany / Biochem. / Biotech.) Graduates / Post-Graduates. Students in the last semester of the under-graduate programme are eligible to compete.

Yes, in 2022, any Indian citizen residing in India or abroad can compete; From 2023, we plan to open the competition to citizens of all South-Asian countries.

There is no limit as long as the applicant is within the prescribed age limit for that year.

Interested candidates may apply online via the link on the websites of NIFTEM and NFSI given below:

Please refer to the schedule in the brochure on the websites. 

Fee can be paid using the registration process. Candidates need to keep proof of the fee paid. 

Please email to: safefoodcadre2022@gmail.com
While sending an email, you must mention the registered email ID and the mobile number. 

Fee once paid for the registration is not refundable.

No. All communications including Certificates will be sent to your registered email ID and all SMS messages will be sent to your registered mobile number. This email ID and mobile number cannot be used by another applicant for her / his registration. 

Except the email ID and mobile number, all other corrections in the particulars of Registration Form can be made before the date of your Objective Exam. Payment of registration fee should be made within a period of 7 calendar days from the date of first registration but before close of the final registration date (31 May 2022). 

You will get disqualified at any stage of the Competition. 

Yes, both objective and subjective type exams. will be conducted on-line.

English

You can give the exams. (both objective and subjective type) from home or any place of your choice. Just make sure that you have internet access of the 2 Mbps (upload and download) bandwidth.

You can give the exams. (both objective and subjective type) by selecting a date and time slot during the registration process according to your convenience and availability.

Yes, change of date and time is allowed only once during the registration process. In case no slot is available, you will lose the opportunity to appear in the competition in this year.

It is your choice not to appear in the exam. However, the registration fee shall not be refunded.

Yes, video proctoring of every candidate will be done during objective as well as subjective type exams. In case any unethical behaviour is observed by the Examination Committee in respect of any candidate, such candidate(s) will be disqualified from the Cadre Competition of that year.

You will be required to give your exam on a computer or a mobile device with a camera. The exam. portal will not work if there is no camera. If you need to do some calculations on a rough sheet, you must place your device at a distance of 1.5 feet so that the camera can capture your desk space. In case the candidate fails to do this, she/he would stand disqualified.

A Committee will take a decision

(a) Objective: There is no limit to the number of questions you can answer. You should continue until the end of the allotted time for each of the two areas, namely, (i) Non-Technical areas (one hour); and (ii) Technical areas (two hours). There will be a 10 minutes break between the two areas of the exams.


(b) Subjective: (i) Two questions in Non-Technical areas; and (ii) Four questions in the Technical areas.
 - This will be a three hours exam.
 - There will also be a choice to select.
 - All questions will be case-study type, but one question in each area will be compulsory.
 - The compulsory questions will be on: (i) Business Management in the Non-Technical areas; and (ii) National / Global Food Regulatory matters in the Technical areas.

Questions in both areas (Non-Technical and Technical) will randomly pop-up on your screen in the Objective exam. In the Subjective exam, all six questions will be displayed together. However, the questions will not be the same across the candidates.

The objective of the programme is to select professionals with an over all understanding of the subjects in broad terms and to assess the extent and depth of knowledge.

You should study all the subject areas of the syllabus and focus on the subjects relevant to food safety, food technology and the regulatory areas.

The selected professionals are expected to be leaders in food businesses. So, you should have good awareness in all the subject areas of the syllabus. 

You should submit the answer sheets at the end of the allotted time. In case you do not submit your answer sheets, the Computer based system will automatically submit your answer sheet as soon as the allotted time is over.

(i) Objective: There will be questions at four levels of difficulty. Level-1 questions will carry one mark and Level-4 questions will carry four marks. The software will automatically raise the level of difficulty as soon as you correctly answer the questions in different areas.
(ii) Subjective: 100 marks covering both areas. The compulsory questions will be of 20 marks each and the others will be of 15 marks each. In case you do not answer the compulsory question and attempt another one in its place, the last one will not be evaluated. 

You have no possibility to go back to review / revise answer of a previous question. You can only go forward in the exam. by answering or by passing it.

Yes. This information will also be embedded in the software.

Yes, your total score in the Technical as well as Non-Technical areas will be displayed on the screen after the answer sheet is submitted and you can take note of it.

There is no negative marking.

Yes, a detailed set of instructions will be provided on the exam. portal on 01 June 2022 and can be downloaded. A video will also be available for ease of understanding.

Yes, the link for mock practice sessions for the objective type exams will be available from 01 June 2022 on the exam. portal. It is meant to familiarize you with the operation of the exam. and to see the kind of questions that you can expect. These mock practice sessions can be taken as many times as you wish.

A computer generated signed Certificate of Participation can be downloaded by each candidate after appearing in the first level of the exam (objective type exam.)

A list of the shortlisted candidates will be published on the websites of NIFTEM and NFSI after each exam. An email will also be sent to your registered email ID.

You will not lose any time in case of any technical problems with the exam. software. The support staff (contact number will be provided in the instructions) will be available to fix it. The time lost will be extended after validation of the problem by the support staff. Please review the set of instructions that will be provided on the exam. portal. However, if the problem is due to internet or your device, then you will lose time.

There will be a count-down timer on the top on your screen. Candidates are advised to observe the time available to you.

There will be a requirement. Please review the Instructions on the exam. portal on or after 01 June 2022. An email will also be sent to the registered candidates.

Mentoring will be conducted online for the short-listed candidates after the subjective-type exams. However, the GD and Interview will be conducted with physical presence of the candidates (subject to Covid situation).

Yes, it is mandatory to attend the mentoring programme, In fact, it is meant to prepare candidates for the GD and Interview, bring them to a level-playing field, and also
for developing the soft skills.

There will be 6-8 candidates in one group.

The subjects for GD could range from any of the technical subject areas or national / international politics, current affairs or trade.

BLEP will be an in-person residential programme at NIFTEM, Sonepat (subject to Covid situation).

Selected working professionals need to take leave from their employers in order to attend the BLEP programme. NIFTEM / NFSI will make necessary recommendations to the employers, if required.

Yes, Decision on the fee structure is still to be taken and will be communicated to the selected candidates well in time. The expenses will be funded either by the candidates themselves or sponsored by organizations.

Financial support / scholarships by NFSI / NIFTEM other organizations is under consideration.

This programme is aimed at the career growth and enhancement of business leadership with a focus on the food sector and food safety. It will also develop the candidates in regulatory affairs in the food sector and enhance negotiation skills at the international level.

The Certificate of Accession to the Cadre will be presented to the selected Food Business Professionals at a special function that will be organized in New Delhi in December 2022 (subject to Covid situation). CEOs of companies and Heads of national / international Organizations will be invited to interact with members of the Cadre. There is a possibility to get selected.

Yes. NFSI / NIFTEM will also approach the CEOs of companies and Heads of national / international Organizations.

The Certificate of Accession will be valid for ever.

Have a Query?