In this study, the enhancement of catalytic activity of ceria when modified with co-catalysts such as graphitic carbon nitride and silver was established. The material was synthesized using phytogenic combustion method, a green alternative to the traditional preparative routes. The catalyst was charac-terized using XRD, FTIR, SEM, EDX, XPS and TEM techniques. The synergistic effect of the composite CeO2/g-C3N4/Ag was tested for catalytic reduction of 4-nitrophenol in the presence of sodium borohy-dride. The reaction was carried out at room temperature without any light source or external stirring. The individual and combined effects of four parameters, viz., concentration of 4-NP, amount of catalyst, amount of NaBH4 and time for the reduction of reduction 4-NP were investigated using Box-Behnken design of response surface methodology (RSM). This statistical model was used to optimize the reaction conditions for maximum reduction of 4-NP. The optimum conditions for the reduction reaction are found to be 0.01 mmol/L 4-NP, 15 mg catalyst, 20 mg NaBH4 and 13.7 min time interval.