The UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) Combined Medical Services (CMS) examination is conducted to recruit medical professionals for various services and posts in government medical institutions. Here’s a detailed explanation of the eligibility criteria for both the UPSC CMS Preliminary Examination and the UPSC CMS Main Examination:
UPSC CMS Eligibility Criteria – Age Limit of Combined Medical Services
1. Nationality:
- Candidates must be one of the following:
- A citizen of India.
- A subject of Nepal or Bhutan.
- A Tibetan refugee who came to India before January 1, 1962, with the intention of permanently settling in India.
- 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, or Vietnam with the intention of permanently settling in India.
2. Age Limit for UPSC CMS – Combined Medical Services
- Candidates must meet the following age limits:
- Minimum Age: 21 years
- Maximum Age: 32 years
- The age is calculated as of January 1 of the examination year.
- Age relaxation is provided for candidates from certain categories:
- SC/ST candidates: Up to 5 years of relaxation
- OBC candidates: Up to 3 years of relaxation
- Ex-servicemen: Up to 5 years of relaxation
- PWD candidates: Up to 10 years of relaxation
3. Educational Qualifications:
- A candidate must have an M.B.B.S. degree from a recognized university or institution.
- Candidates who have appeared or are yet to appear for the final M.B.B.S. examination are also eligible, but they must produce their final passing certificate at the time of the interview.
4. Physical and Medical Standards for UPSC CMS
- Candidates should meet the prescribed physical and medical standards as per the requirements of the specific CMS posts.
- Detailed physical and medical standards are mentioned in the official UPSC CMS notification.
5. Number of Attempts:
- The number of attempts for the CMS examination is as follows:
- General Category: 6 attempts
- OBC Category: 9 attempts
- SC/ST Category: Unlimited attempts until the age limit is reached
6. Other Requirements:
- Candidates should be in good mental and physical health and free from any medical conditions that might interfere with the efficient performance of their duties.
- Candidates who have been previously selected for the CMS examination and have joined a government medical service must satisfy certain conditions before applying again.
Please note that the eligibility criteria may be subject to change, and candidates should refer to the official UPSC CMS notification for the specific year they plan to appear for the examination to ensure they meet all eligibility requirements.
Meeting the eligibility criteria is essential for candidates to apply and appear for the UPSC CMS examination. Candidates should thoroughly read and understand the official notification before applying.
The UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) Combined Medical Services (CMS) examination consists of two parts: the Computer-Based Examination (Preliminary) and the Personality Test (Interview) for those who qualify in the written examination. Here’s a detailed syllabus for both parts:
UPSC CMS Preliminary Exam Syllabus
The Preliminary Examination is conducted in a computer-based format and consists of two papers:
Paper 1 General Medicine and Pediatrics
- General Medicine:
- Cardiology
- Respiratory diseases
- Gastro-intestinal
- Genito-Urinary
- Neurology
- Hematology
- Endocrinology
- Metabolic disorders
- Infections/Communicable Diseases
- Virus, Rickets, Bacterial, Spirochetal, Protozoan, Metazoan, Fungus
- Diseases of the skin (Dermatology)
- Musculoskeletal System
- Psychiatry
- General
- Emergency Medicine
- Common Poisoning
- Snakebite
- Tropical Medicine
- Critical Care Medicine
- Pediatrics:
- Common childhood emergencies
- Basic newborn care
- Normal developmental milestones
- Accidents and poisonings in children
- Birth defects and counseling, including autism
- Immunization in children
- Common medical problems and pediatric surgeries
Paper 2 Surgery, Gynecology & Obstetrics
- Surgery:
- General Surgery
- Wounds
- Infections
- Tumors
- Lymphatic
- Blood vessels
- Cysts/sinuses
- Head and neck
- Breast
- Alimentary tract
- Liver, Bile, Pancreas
- Spleen
- Peritoneum
- Abdominal wall
- Abdominal injuries
- Gynecology & Obstetrics:
- Obstetrics
- Ante-natal conditions
- Intra-natal conditions
- Post-natal conditions
- Management of normal labors
- Complications during pregnancy and labor
- Gynecology
- Questions on applied anatomy
- Questions on applied physiology of menstruation and fertilization
- Questions on infections in the genital tract
- Questions on neoplasma in the genital tract
- Questions on displacement of the uterus
- Normal delivery and safe delivery practices
Personality Test (Interview):
The Personality Test assesses a candidate’s suitability for the CMS services. It doesn’t have a specific syllabus, but candidates should be prepared for questions related to their academic background, practical knowledge, and current events in the field of medicine. It also assesses the candidate’s general awareness, communication skills, and personality traits.
Candidates should prepare thoroughly for both the Preliminary Examination and the Personality Test to perform well in the UPSC CMS examination. Additionally, candidates are advised to refer to the official UPSC CMS notification for the specific year they plan to appear for the examination for any updates or changes in the syllabus.
The UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) Combined Medical Services (CMS) examination consists of two parts: the Computer-Based Examination (Preliminary) and the Personality Test (Interview) for those who qualify in the written examination. Here’s a detailed exam pattern for both parts:
UPSC CMS Preliminary Examination Pattern:
The Preliminary Examination is conducted in a computer-based format and consists of two papers, each of 250 marks:
Paper 1 General Medicine and Pediatrics
- Duration: 2 hours and 30 minutes
- Number of Questions: Approximately 120 questions from General Medicine and 30 questions from Pediatrics
- Maximum Marks: 250
- Type of Questions: Multiple-choice questions (MCQs)
- Negative Marking: 1/3rd of the marks assigned to that question will be deducted for each wrong answer.
Paper 2 Surgery, Gynecology & Obstetrics
- Duration: 2 hours and 30 minutes
- Number of Questions: Approximately 40 questions from Surgery, 40 questions from Gynecology, and 20 questions from Obstetrics
- Maximum Marks: 250
- Type of Questions: Multiple-choice questions (MCQs)
- Negative Marking: 1/3rd of the marks assigned to that question will be deducted for each wrong answer.
Note: Only those candidates who qualify in the Preliminary Examination are eligible to appear for the Personality Test (Interview).
UPSC CMS Personality Test (Interview) Pattern:
The Personality Test assesses a candidate’s suitability for the CMS services. It is conducted by a board of competent and unbiased observers who have wide experience in administering such tests. The interview is conducted for a maximum of 100 marks.
The interview panel assesses the candidate’s personality, communication skills, general awareness, knowledge in the medical field, and other relevant attributes.
Candidates should note that the final selection is based on the combined marks obtained in the Preliminary Examination and the Personality Test.
Important Points to Note:
- Candidates must secure a minimum qualifying mark in the Preliminary Examination to be eligible for the Personality Test. The minimum qualifying mark is determined by UPSC and may vary from year to year.
- The Preliminary Examination is primarily a screening test, and the marks obtained in this examination are not counted in the final selection; they are only used to determine eligibility for the Personality Test.
- The final merit list is prepared based on the candidate’s performance in the Personality Test (Interview) and their rank in the order of merit.
- The Personality Test assesses not only the candidate’s knowledge but also their suitability for the medical services.