Abstract: Cerium oxide nanoparticles or nanoceria were synthesized by hydroxide mediated approach using cerium nitrate hexahydrate (Ce(NO3)3.6H2O and sodium hydroxide (NaOH) as precursors. Structural and morphological studies of the cerium oxide nanoparticles were carried out using X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). XRD pattern confirmed the polycrystalline nature of the cerium nanoparticles with face centered cubic structure. Crystallite size was calculated using Debye Scherrer formula and the size was found to be in the range of 9-16 nm. SEM studies revealed the formation of nanosized spherical particles around 18-30.4 nm. The absorption band at 550.84 cm-1 (Ce-O stretch) in FTIR spectrum confirmed the formation of cerium oxide nanoparticles. Optical studies were carried out using UV-Visible absorbance spectrophotometry and a well defined absorbance peak was observed around 325 nm.