Purpose

The primary purpose of the CMS examination is to select qualified medical professionals to serve in different capacities within the Government of India's healthcare system.

Eligibility

Age Limits

A.   For General Duty Medical Officer (GDMO) in Central Health Services:

§  Maximum Age: 32 years (as of 1st August of the year of examination).

B.    For other services/hosts:

§  Maximum Age: 35 years (as of 1st August of the year of the examination).

Nationality 

    Candidates must be either

§  A citizen of India, or

§  A subject of Nepal, or

§  A subject of Bhutan, or

§  A Tibetan refugee who came to India before January 1, 1962, intending to permanently settle in India, or

§  A person of Indian origin who has migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, and East African countries of Kenya, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, Ethiopia, and Vietnam to permanently settle in India. 

Physical and Medical Standards

A.  Physical Standards:

1.    Vision Standards

§  For General Duty Medical Officer (GDMO) in central health services.

o   Uncorrected Vision: 6/6

o   Corrected Vision: 6/6 (with or without glasses)

§  For other services/posts, specific vision standards may apply.

2.    General Health

§  Candidates should be in good physical and mental health.

§  They should be free from any communicable disease.

3.    Hearing

§  The candidate should have normal hearing ability.

B.  Medical Standards

                                            I.            General Health

§  Candidates should not have any evidence of weak constitution, bodily defects, or underweight.

§  They should not have physical deformities that would affect their performance of duties.

                                        II.            Physical Fitness

§  Candidates must be physically fit to perform the duties of their respective services.

§  They should not have any medical issues that would limit their ability to serve effectively.

                                    III.            Chest X-ray

§  Candidates may be required to undergo a chest X-ray to ensure the absence of any respiratory or chest-related diseases.

                                     IV.            Blood Pressure

§  Normal blood pressure is expected, and candidates with hypertension may be disqualified.

                                         V.            Urinalysis

Urinalysis may be conducted to check for any abnormality or medical condition.

                                     VI.            Pregnancy

For female candidates, pregnancy is generally a disqualifying condition.

 
Note:

The specific medical standards may vary for different services within CMS, and candidates are advised to refer to the official UPSC notification for the particular examination year for precise details.

Candidates should ensure that they meet the medical and physical standards prescribed by the UPSC for the service they are applying for.

Qualification

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) in India sets the qualifying criteria for the Combined Medical Services (CMS) examination, which includes educational prerequisites, age limits, and other particular needs. CMS's major eligibility criteria are as follows:

Educational Qualifications

Candidates should have one of the following medical qualifications:

1.     For general duty medical officer (GDMO) in central health services:

§  A degree in medicine and a recognized medical qualification listed in the First or Second Schedules of the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956 (other than licentiate credentials).

2.     For other services/posts:

§  A candidate should have passed the written and practical parts of the final M.B.B.S. Examination.

Syllabus

The syllabus for the Union Public Service Commission's (UPSC) Combined Medical Services (CMS) examination comprises a wide range of medical courses. The exam is divided into two papers, each concentrating on a different aspect of medicine. Here is a synopsis of the CMS curriculum.:

Paper I: General Medicine and Pediatrics

General Medicine

A.  Cardiology
§  Diseases of the heart, diagnosis, and treatment.

B.  Respiratory Diseases
§  Diseases of the lungs, diagnosis, and treatment.

C.  Gastro-Intestinal
§  Diseases of the stomach and intestines, liver, and pancreas.

D.  Genito-Urinary
§  Diseases of the kidney, urinary, and tract infections

E.  Neurology
§  Diseases of the nervous system.

F.   Hematology
§  Disorder of the blood

G. Infectious Diseases:
§  Common infections and their treatment.

H. Endocrinology:
§  Disorders of the endocrine glands.

I.     Nutrition:
§  Nutritional diseases.

Pediatrics

A.  Common Childhood Infections
§  Causes, symptoms, and treatments

B.  Immunization:
§  Vaccination schedules, preventable diseases.

C.  Growth and Development:
§  Normal growth milestones.

D.  Nutrition in Infants and Children:
§  Nutritional requirements.

E.  Pediatric Emergencies:
§  Recognition and management.

Paper-II: Surgery, Gynecology and Obstetrics, and Preventive and Social Medicine

Surgery

                                       I.            General Surgery:

§  Principles of surgery, wounds, infections.

                                    II.            Urological Surgery:

§  Diseases of the kidney, bladder, and prostate.

                                III.            Neuro Surgery:

§  Surgical Procedures related to the nervous system.

                                 IV.            Cardio – thoracic surgery:

§  Surgery of the heart and chest

                                    V.            Orthopedic Surgery:

§  Diseases of bones and joints

Gynecology and Obstetrics:

                                I.            Obstetrics:

§  Antenatal Care, Postnatal care, complications of pregnancy.

                            II.            Gynecology:

§  Gynecological infections, tumors, and malignancies.

Preventive and social medicine:

                                                        I.            Social and preventive medicine:

§  Concepts, definitions, and principles.

                                                    II.            Communicable Disease:

§  Control and Prevention

                                                III.            Communicable Diseases:

§  Prevention and Control

                                                 IV.            Demography and Family Planning:

§  Population Dynamics, Family Planning methods.

                                                     V.            Nutrition and Health

§  Nutritional Deficiencies and their Prevention.

This is a general overview of the CMS syllabus. Candidates are advised to refer to the official UPSC notification for the specific examination year for detailed and updated information on the syllabus. Thorough preparation, including studying standard medical textbooks, practicing with previous years' question papers, and staying updated on medical advancements, is essential for success in the CMS examination.

Exam Pattern

The Combined Medical Services (CMS) examination conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) follows a two-stage selection process: a written examination and a personality test (interview). Here's a brief explanation of the exam pattern for CMS:

                   i.            Written Examination

The written examination consists of two papers, each focusing on different areas of medicine:

Paper 1: General Medicine and Pediatrics

Ø Duration: 2 Hours

Ø Maximum Marks: 250

Ø Types of Questions: Objective Type (MCQ)

Ø Topics Covered:

·        General Medicine: Cardiovascular System, Respiratory System, Gastrointestinal System, Genitourinary System, Neurology, Hematology, etc.

·        Pediatrics: Common Childhood Infections, Immunization, Growth and Development, Pediatric Emergencies, etc.

Paper II: Surgery, Gynecology, and Obstetrics and preventive and social medicine

Ø Duration: 2 hours

Ø Maximum Marks: 250

Ø Type of Questions: Objective Type (Multiple Choice Questions)

Ø Topics Covered:

·        Surgery: General Surgery, Urological Surgery, Neuro Surgery, Cardio-thoracic surgery, Orthopedic surgery, etc.

·        Gynecology and Obstetrics: Obstetrics, Gynecology, Family Planning, etc.

·        Preventive and Social Medicine: Social and Preventive Medicine, Communicable and Non-communicable Diseases, Nutrition, etc.

                ii.            Personality Test (Interview)

Candidates who qualify in the written examination are called for the Personality Test (Interview). The interview is conducted to assess the candidate's personality, suitability for the medical profession, and understanding of medical subjects.

Maximum Marks for the interview:100

The number of attempts allowed for the Combined Medical Services (CMS) examination conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) varies based on the candidate's category. Here is the general information regarding the number of attempts:

Ø For General Category Candidates

A candidate is only allowed to have six attempts.                    

Ø For SC/ST Candidates

There is no restriction on the number of attempts until the prescribed age limit.

Ø For OBC Candidates

A candidate is allowed a maximum of nine attempts until the prescribed age limit.

It's important to note that these rules may be subject to change, and candidates should refer to the official UPSC notification for the specific examination year for accurate and up-to-date information. Additionally, eligibility criteria, including the number of attempts, may be revised by the UPSC, so candidates are advised to check the latest guidelines provided by the commission.

Selection Criteria

Final Selection

The final selection is based on the combined marks obtained by the candidate in both the written examination and the interview. The written examination carries a maximum of 500 marks (250 marks for each paper), and the interview carries a maximum of 100 marks.

Merit List

A merit list is prepared based on the total marks secured by candidates in the written examination and the interview. Candidates are then selected based on their rank in the merit list.

Tie-Breaking Criteria:

In case of a tie in the total marks, criteria such as total marks in the written examination, marks in the interview, and date of birth are used to determine the final ranking.

                                                             i.      Total Marks in the Written Examination

                                                           ii.      Marks in the Personality Test (Interview)

                                                        iii.      Date of Birth (Older candidates are given preference)

Medical Examination

Candidates who have been selected based on their performance in the written examination and interview are then required to go through a medical examination to ensure that they meet the prescribed physical and medical standards.

Note:      

·        The CMS examination is highly competitive, and candidates are advised to prepare thoroughly for both the written examination and the interview.

·        The final selection is made based on the candidate's overall performance in all stages of the selection process.

As the exam pattern may be subject to change, candidates should refer to the official UPSC notification for the specific examination year for accurate and up-to-date information.

Frequency

The Combined Medical Services (CMS) examination is typically conducted once a year by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) in India. The exact schedule for the CMS examination can vary, but it is generally an annual event.

the UPSC usually releases the notification for the CMS examination several months before the exam date.

To get the most accurate and up-to-date information regarding the frequency and schedule of the CMS examination, it is recommended to regularly check the official UPSC website or refer to the official notifications issued by the UPSC for the specific examination year. Exam schedules and frequencies can sometimes be subject to changes, and the official notifications will provide the most reliable information.

Employee Opportunities

Successful candidates may be appointed to the following services: