Syllabus
UPSC CMS Syllabus 2026
The exam pattern and the official topic lists for UPSC CMS, read from the recruiting body’s own notice — with the notice’s own caveats kept, not trimmed.
Written Examination — Paper I: General Medicine and Paediatrics (250 marks, 120 questions, objective type)
Duration120 minutes · 160 minutes for candidates eligible for a scribe
Negative marking1/3
Syllabus, section by section
General Medicine (96 questions)
- Cardiology
- Respiratory diseases
- Gastro-intestinal
- Genito-Urinary
- Neurology
- Hematology
- Endocrinology
- Metabolic disorders
- Infections/Communicable Diseases (virus, rickets, bacterial, spirochetal, protozoan, metazoan, fungus)
- Nutrition/Growth
- Diseases of the skin (Dermatology)
- Musculoskeletal System
- Psychiatry (including depression, psychosis, anxiety, bipolar diseases and schizophrenia)
- General
- Emergency Medicine
- Common Poisoning
- Snake bite
- Tropical Medicine
- Critical Care Medicine
- Emphasis on medical procedures
- Patho physiological basis of diseases
- Vaccines preventable diseases and non vaccines preventable diseases
- Vitamin deficiency diseases
Paediatrics (24 questions)
- Common childhood emergencies
- Basic new born care
- Normal developmental milestones
- Accidents and poisonings in children
- Birth defects and counselling including autism
- Immunization in children
- Recognizing children with special needs and management
- National programmes related to child health
The notice calls these topics illustrative, not exhaustive.
Written Examination — Paper II: Surgery, Gynaecology & Obstetrics, Preventive & Social Medicine (250 marks, 120 questions, objective type)
Duration120 minutes · 160 minutes for candidates eligible for a scribe
Negative marking1/3
Syllabus, section by section
Surgery (including ENT, Ophthalmology, Traumatology and Orthopaedics) — 40 questions
- Urological Surgery
- Neuro Surgery
- Otorhinolaryngology E.N.T.
- Thoracic surgery
- Orthopaedic surgery
- Ophthalmology
- Anesthesiology
- Traumatology
- Diagnosis and management of common surgical ailments
- Pre-operative and post-operative care of surgical patients
- Medicolegal and ethical issues of surgery
- Wound healing
- Fluid and electrolyte management in surgery
- Shock patho-physiology and management
General Surgery
- Wounds
- Infections
- Tumours
- Lymphatic
- Blood vessels
- Cysts/sinuses
- Head and neck
- Breast
- Alimentary tract (oesophagus, stomach, intestines, anus, developmental)
- Liver, Bile, Pancreas
- Spleen
- Peritoneum
- Abdominal wall
- Abdominal injuries
Gynaecology & Obstetrics — 40 questions
Obstetrics
- Ante-natal conditions
- Intra-natal conditions
- Post-natal conditions
- Management of normal labours or complicated labour
Gynaecology
- Applied anatomy
- Applied physiology of menstruation and fertilization
- Infections in genital tract
- Neoplasma in the genital tract
- Displacement of the uterus
- Normal delivery and safe delivery practices
- High risk pregnancy and management
- Abortions
- Intra Uterine growth retardation
- Medicolegal examination in obgy and Gynae including Rape
Family Planning
- Conventional contraceptives
- U.D. and oral pills
- Operative procedure, sterilization and organization of programmes in the urban and rural surroundings
- Medical Termination of Pregnancy
Preventive Social and Community Medicine — 40 questions
- Social and Community Medicine
- Concept of Health, Disease and Preventive Medicine
- Health Administration and Planning
- General Epidemiology
- Demography and Health Statistics
- Communicable Diseases
- Environmental Health
- Nutrition and Health
- Non-communicable diseases
- Occupational Health
- Genetics and Health
- International Health
- Medical Sociology and Health Education
- Maternal and Child Health
- National Programmes
- Management of common health problems
- Ability to monitor national health programmes
- Knowledge of maternal and child wellness
- Ability to recognize, investigate, report, plan and manage community health problems including malnutrition and emergencies
Personality Test (100 marks)
Syllabus, section by section
Personality Test
Carrying 100 marks, for candidates who qualify on the results of the written examination.