The National Testing Agency (NTA) conducted the CUET PG 2026 Food Science (SCQP12) examination on March 18, 2026, during Shift 1 from 09:00 AM to 10:30 AM.

Students who appeared for the exam reported that the overall difficulty level of the paper was moderate. CUET PG 2026 Food Science Question Paper with Solutions PDF is available here for download. The marking scheme is +4 for correct answers and -1 for wrong answers, totaling 300 marks.

CUET PG 2026 Food Science Question Paper with Solutions PDF

CUET PG 2026 Food Science Question Paper with Answer Key Download PDF Check Solutions

Question 1:

What is the primary protein found in wheat responsible for its dough-forming properties?

  • (A) Casein
  • (B) Albumin
  • (C) Gluten
  • (D) Keratin

Question 2:

Which enzyme is commonly used as an indicator for the effectiveness of milk pasteurisation?

  • (A) Amylase
  • (B) Lipase
  • (C) Phosphatase
  • (D) Protease

Question 3:

In food preservation, what does the term 'D-value' represent?

  • (A) Time required to destroy all microorganisms
  • (B) Time required to reduce microbial population by 90%
  • (C) Temperature required to kill microorganisms
  • (D) Rate of microbial growth

Question 4:

Which food additive is used as a sequestering agent to prevent oxidative rancidity?

  • (A) Sodium benzoate
  • (B) EDTA
  • (C) Citric acid
  • (D) Sodium chloride

Question 5:

What is the name of the process used to destroy pathogenic microorganisms in liquid foods using high heat for a short time?

  • (A) Sterilisation
  • (B) Pasteurisation
  • (C) Fermentation
  • (D) Dehydration

Question 6:

Which vitamin is most susceptible to loss during the boiling of vegetables?

  • (A) Vitamin A
  • (B) Vitamin D
  • (C) Vitamin C
  • (D) Vitamin K

Question 7:

What is the major acid present in citrus fruits like lemons and oranges?

  • (A) Acetic acid
  • (B) Lactic acid
  • (C) Citric acid
  • (D) Tartaric acid

Question 8:

During the ripening of fruits, which gas acts as a natural ripening hormone?

  • (A) Oxygen
  • (B) Carbon dioxide
  • (C) Ethylene
  • (D) Nitrogen

Question 9:

What is the purpose of adding 'Nitrites' in the curing process of meat products?

  • (A) To increase moisture content
  • (B) To enhance sweetness
  • (C) To preserve color and inhibit microbial growth
  • (D) To reduce fat content

Question 10:

Which organism is primarily responsible for the production of yogurt from milk?

  • (A) Saccharomyces cerevisiae
  • (B) Lactobacillus bulgaricus
  • (C) Aspergillus niger
  • (D) Escherichia coli

Question 11:

What is the moisture content level below which most bacteria cannot grow in dried foods?

  • (A) 50%
  • (B) 30%
  • (C) 15%
  • (D) 5%

Question 12:

Which browning reaction occurs during the heating of sugars in the absence of nitrogenous compounds?

  • (A) Maillard reaction
  • (B) Enzymatic browning
  • (C) Caramelization
  • (D) Oxidative browning

Question 13:

What is the main carbohydrate found in cow's milk?

  • (A) Glucose
  • (B) Fructose
  • (C) Lactose
  • (D) Sucrose

Question 14:

Which packaging technique involves replacing the air inside a package with a specific gas mixture to extend shelf life?

  • (A) Vacuum packaging
  • (B) Modified Atmosphere Packaging
  • (C) Aseptic packaging
  • (D) Active packaging

Question 15:

What is the function of an emulsifier in a food system like mayonnaise?

  • (A) To enhance sweetness
  • (B) To stabilize a mixture of immiscible liquids
  • (C) To increase acidity
  • (D) To preserve color

CUET PG 2026 Food Science Preparation