Prepare for UPSC Combined Medical Services (CMS) Exam. Get details on eligibility, syllabus, exam pattern, vacancies, and career prospects for Medical Officers in Central Govt.
Conducted by: UPSC
The UPSC Combined Medical Services (CMS) Examination serves as a gateway for medical graduates to join various prestigious Group 'A' posts under the Central Government of India. The primary purpose of this examination is to recruit Assistant Divisional Medical Officers in the Indian Railways, Junior Scale Posts in the Central Health Services, General Duty Medical Officers in New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC), and General Duty Medical Officers in East, North, and South Delhi Municipal Corporations (MCD). Every year, thousands of medical professionals aspire to secure a stable and rewarding career in public service through CMS. The number of vacancies for these posts varies each year, depending on the requirements of the various participating ministries and departments. Aspirants should refer to the official notification for the exact number of vacancies in a given year. These positions offer an excellent opportunity to contribute to public health and welfare across the country. Career prospects after qualifying the UPSC CMS examination are highly promising. Successful candidates are appointed to Group 'A' gazetted posts, which come with good salaries, job security, allowances, and opportunities for professional growth and promotions. Doctors joining these services play a crucial role in providing healthcare services, managing public health initiatives, and contributing to the national health infrastructure in diverse settings, from railway hospitals to municipal clinics.
Nationality: A candidate must be either: a citizen of India, or a subject of Nepal, or a subject of Bhutan, or a Tibetan refugee who came over to India before 1st January 1962 with the intention of permanently settling in India, or a person of Indian origin who has migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, East African Countries of Kenya, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, Ethiopia and Vietnam with the intention of permanently settling in India. Provided that a candidate belonging to categories (b), (c), (d) and (e) shall be a person in whose favour a certificate of eligibility has been issued by the Government of India. Age Limit: A candidate must not have attained the age of 32 years as on the specified cut-off date (usually 1st August of the year of examination). Age Relaxation: Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes (SC/ST): Upto a maximum of 5 years (i.e., 37 years). Other Backward Classes (OBC): Upto a maximum of 3 years (i.e., 35 years). Physically Handicapped (PH/PwBD) candidates: Upto a maximum of 10 years (i.e., 42 years). Defence Service personnel disabled in operations during hostilities with any foreign country or in a disturbed area and released as a consequence thereof: Upto a maximum of 3 years. Ex-servicemen including Commissioned Officers and ECOs/SSCOs who have rendered at least five years Military Service as on the specified cut-off date: Upto a maximum of 5 years. Educational Qualification: A candidate must have passed the written and practical parts of the Final M.B.B.S. Examination. Candidates appearing in the Final M.B.B.S. Examination are also eligible to apply provisionally. However, they must produce proof of passing the examination along with proof of completion of compulsory rotating internship at the time of the Interview/Personality Test. Compulsory Rotating Internship: A candidate must have completed a compulsory rotating internship. For those who are yet to complete it, they must ensure its completion by the s
| Stage | Type | Duration | Subjects | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Based Examination (CBE) | MCQ | 2 hours | General Medicine and Pediatrics | 250 |
| Computer Based Examination (CBE) | MCQ | 2 hours | Surgery, Gynaecology & Obstetrics, Preventive & Social Medicine | 250 |
| Interview/Personality Test | Viva Voce | N/A | General knowledge, communication skills, personality assessment | 100 |
Online Registration (Part-I): Visit the official UPSC website (upsc.gov.in) or the dedicated online application portal. Candidates need to register themselves by providing basic personal details, contact information, and educational qualifications. A unique Registration ID will be generated. Fee Payment: After Part-I registration, candidates must pay the application fee. The fee can typically be paid online using Net Banking, Visa/Master/RuPay Credit/Debit Card, or by depositing the money in any branch of SBI by cash. SC/ST/PwBD candidates and female candidates are exempted from fee payment. Online Application (Part-II): Once the fee payment is processed, candidates proceed to Part-II registration. This involves uploading scanned copies of their photograph and signature as per the prescribed specifications. Selection of Examination Centre: Candidates must choose their preferred examination centre from the available list during Part-II registration. Declaration and Final Submission: Review all entered details carefully. Read the declaration and confirm. After final submission, take a printout of the completed application form for future reference. Correction Window: UPSC usually provides a correction window after the application period closes, allowing candidates to rectify minor errors in their application form.
The maximum age limit is 32 years for General category candidates. Age relaxations are applicable for SC/ST (5 years), OBC (3 years), and PwBD (10 years) candidates.
You must have passed the written and practical parts of the Final M.B.B.S. Examination. Completion of compulsory rotating internship is also required, usually by the time of the Interview/Personality Test.
Yes, there is negative marking. For every incorrect answer, one-third (0.33) of the marks assigned to that question will be deducted.
There is no restriction on the number of attempts for the UPSC CMS Examination, subject to fulfilling the age limit and other eligibility criteria.
The selection process comprises two stages: a Computer Based Examination (CBE) of 500 marks (Paper-I & Paper-II) and a Personality Test/Interview of 100 marks. The final merit list is prepared based on the total marks obtained in both stages.
Yes, candidates appearing in the Final M.B.B.S. Examination are eligible to apply provisionally. However, they must produce proof of passing the examination and completion of internship by the specified date, typically before the interview.
Successful candidates are recruited as Assistant Divisional Medical Officers in Indian Railways, Junior Scale Posts in Central Health Services, General Duty Medical Officers in NDMC, and General Duty Medical Officers in Delhi Municipal Corporations (MCD).