Vapour phase selective hydrogenation of acetophenone has been performed over a series of Pt/CeO2-MO (x) (MO (x) = SiO2, Al2O3, TiO2, and ZrO2) catalysts. The controlled hydrogenation was carried out in the 453-533 K temperature range at normal atmospheric pressure. The ceria-based mixed oxides were prepared through a co-precipitation or deposition-precipitation route. Platinum was deposited by a wet impregnation method. The obtained catalysts were calcined at 773 K and characterized by means of X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, BET surface area, temperature programmed reduction, temperature programmed desorption, thermogravimetry, and scanning electron microscopy. XRD analyses suggest that CeO2-SiO2 and CeO2-Al2O3 primarily consist of CeO2 nanoparticles dispersed over the amorphous silica or alumina surface. In the case of CeO2-TiO2, presence of segregated nanocrystalline CeO2 and TiO2-anatase phase were noted. Formation of cubic Ce0.75Zr0.25O2 solid solution was observed in the case of CeO2-ZrO2. No peaks pertaining to platinum could be detected from XRD profiles. Formation of zirconia rich tetragonal phase (Ce0.4Zr0.6O2) was observed in the case of Pt/CeO2-ZrO2 sample. Raman measurements revealed the fluorite structure of ceria and presence of oxygen vacancies in all samples. TPR results suggest that the presence of Pt facilitates the reduction of ceria. The catalytic performance of Pt-based catalysts was found to depend strongly on the nature of the support oxide employed. Among various catalysts investigated, the Pt/CeO2-SiO2 catalyst exhibited better product yields.