The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts the Combined Medical Services (CMS) Examination annually to recruit Group-A Medical Officers for various government departments. Given the highly competitive nature of this exam, candidates must thoroughly understand the syllabus, exam pattern, and selection criteria. Devising a structured, strategic preparation plan is essential to maximize scores and secure selection. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the UPSC CMS 2026 syllabus, exam structure, and key guidelines.
UPSC CMS Syllabus and Exam Pattern 2026
The UPSC CMS exam is a highly sought-after opportunity for medical graduates aiming to serve in central and state healthcare services. The recruitment process is structured into two stages: a Computer-Based Written Examination followed by a Personality Test (Interview). The written examination comprises two papers—Paper 1 and Paper 2—each carrying 250 marks and consisting of 120 multiple-choice questions (MCQs). Candidates should note that a negative marking penalty of 1/3rd mark is applied for every incorrect answer.
| UPSC CMS Syllabus 2026- Overview | |
| Exam Conducting Body | Union Public Service Commission(UPSC) |
| Exam Name | Combined Medical Service(CMS) |
| Qualification | MBBS |
| Language | English |
| Part 1 | Written Exam (Paper1 and Paper2) |
| Question Types | MCQ format |
| Weightage | 500 ( 250 Marks For Each Paper) |
| Duration | 4 Hours ( 2 Hours Each) |
| Negative Marking | ⅓rd Marks |
| Selection Process | Prelims- Mains- Interview |
| Marks | 100 |
| Official Website | www.upsconline.gov.in |
UPSC CMS Selection Process 2026
The UPSC CMS 2026 selection process consists of two primary stages:
Stage 1 - Written Examination: This stage consists of two computer-based papers: Paper 1 (250 Marks) and Paper 2 (250 Marks).
Stage 2 - Personality Test: Candidates who successfully clear the written examination and meet the cutoff criteria are shortlisted for the interview round.
UPSC CMS Exam Pattern 2026
The UPSC CMS 2026 evaluation will be conducted in two stages: 1. Written Examination (Computer-Based Test), and 2. Personality Test/Interview.
- Written Exam: It is divided into 2 papers, which are Paper 1 and Paper 2
Paper 1: General Medicine and Pediatrics (250 marks)
| Paper 1 | ||||
| Subject | Questions | Marks | Duration | Type |
| General Medicine | 96 | 250 | 2 Hours | Objective |
| Pediatrics | 24 | |||
| Total | 120 | |||
Paper 2: Focuses on Surgery, Preventive & Social Medicine, and Gynecology & Obstetrics, carrying a total of 250 marks.
| Paper 2 | ||||
| Subject | Questions | Marks | Duration | Type |
| Surgery | 40 | 250 | 2 Hours | Objective |
| Preventive & social medicine | 40 | |||
| gynecology and obstetrics | 40 | |||
| Total | 120 | |||
Both papers consist of multiple-choice questions (MCQs) and are conducted on the same day. Candidates are allotted a duration of 2 hours for each paper, totaling 4 hours of examination time. A negative marking of 1/3rd of the marks assigned to a question will be deducted for each incorrect answer. Only candidates who secure marks above the qualifying cutoff in the written exam will proceed to the personality test.
- Interview: Candidates who qualify the written exam will be called for an interview, which tests their suitability for service as a medical officer. The interview typically carries 100 marks. The final selection is based on the combined score of the written exam and the interview.
UPSC CMS Syllabus 2026
The detailed subject-wise syllabus for both Paper 1 and Paper 2 is outlined below:
UPSC CMS Syllabus for Paper 1
Paper 1 of the UPSC CMS Exam centers on General Medicine and Pediatrics, carrying a total weightage of 250 marks. It features 120 questions, with 96 questions from General Medicine and 24 questions from Pediatrics.
| UPSC CMS Syllabus for Paper 1 | |
| Subjects | Topics |
| General Medicine | (i) Cardiology (xxiv) Psychiatry topics include: Depression, psychosis, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. |
| Pediatrics | (i) Common childhood emergencies, (ii) Basic new born care, (iii) Normal developmental milestones, (iv) Accidents and poisonings in children, (v) Birth defects and counseling including autism, (vi) Immunization in children, (vii) Recognizing children with special needs and management, and (viii) National programmers related to child health. |
UPSC CMS Syllabus for Paper 2
Paper 2, also carrying 250 marks, is structured around Surgery, Gynecology & Obstetrics, and Preventive & Social Medicine. Each of these three sections comprises 40 questions.
| UPSC CMS Syllabus for Paper 2 | |
| Subjects | Topic |
| Surgery | (I) General Surgery i) Wounds ii) Infections iii) Tumors iv) Lymphatic v) Blood vessels vi) Cysts/sinuses vii) Head and neck viii) Breast ix) Alimentary tract a) Esophagus b) Stomach c) Intestines d) Anus e) Developmental x) Liver, Bile, Pancreas xi) Spleen xii) Peritoneum xiii) Abdominal wall xiv) Abdominal injuries (II) Urological Surgery (III) Neuro Surgery (IV) Otorhinolaryngology E.N.T. (V) Thoracic surgery (VI) Orthopedic surgery (VII) Ophthalmology (VIII) Anesthesiology (IX) Traumatology (X) Diagnosis and management of common surgical ailments (XI) Pre-operative and post operative care of surgical patients (XII) Medicolegal and ethical issues of surgery (XIII) Wound healing (XIV) Fluid and electrolyte management in surgery (XV) Shock pathos-physiology and management. |
| Gynecology's & Obstetrics | (I) OBSTETRICS i) Ante-natal conditions ii) Intra-natal conditions iii) Post-natal conditions iv) Management of normal labor or complicated labor (II) GYNAECOLOGY i) Questions on applied anatomy ii) Questions on applied physiology of menstruation and fertilization iii) Questions on infections in genital tract iv) Questions on neoplasma in the genital tract v) Questions on displacement of the uterus vi)Normal delivery and safe delivery practices vii) High risk pregnancy and management viii) Abortions ix) Intra Uterine growth retardation x) Medicolegal examination in obgy and Gynae including Rape. (III) FAMILY PLANNING i) Conventional contraceptives ii) U.D. and oral pills iii) Operative procedure, sterilization and organization of programmers in the urban and rural surroundings iv) Medical Termination of Pregnancy |
| Preventive & Social Medicine | I Social and Community Medicine II Concept of Health, Disease and Preventive Medicine III Health Administration and Planning IV General Epidemiology V Demography and Health Statistics VI Communicable Diseases VII Environmental Health VIII Nutrition and Health IX Non-communicable diseases X Occupational Health XI Genetics and Health XII International Health XIII Medical Sociology and Health Education XIV Maternal and Child Health XV National Programmers XVI Management of common health problems XVII Ability to monitor national health programmers XVIII Knowledge of maternal and child wellness XIX Ability to recognize, investigate, report, plan and manage community health problems including malnutrition and emergencies |
UPSC CMS Syllabus- FAQs
The selection process for UPSC CMS posts consists of two main stages: a Computer-Based Written Examination (comprising Paper 1 and Paper 2) followed by a Personality Test (Interview).
Yes, a negative marking penalty of 1/3rd (0.33) of the marks assigned to a question is applicable for every incorrect answer in the written exam.
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