UPSC Medical Service Recruitment: The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has officially released Examination Notice No. 9/2026-CMS for the Combined Medical Services Examination, 2026. This is your opportunity to secure a prestigious position as a medical officer in various government services.
📅 Important Dates at a Glance
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Release Date | 11th March 2026 |
| Start of Online Application | 11th March 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply Online | 31st March 2026, up to 6:00 PM |
| Date of Examination | 2nd August 2026 |
🩺 Services & Vacancies (Tentative)
By cracking the CMS exam, you can be recruited to the following prestigious posts:
| Category | Service/Post | Tentative Vacancies |
|---|---|---|
| I | Medical Officers Grade in General Duty Medical Officers Sub-cadre of Central Health Service | 864 |
| II (i) | Assistant Divisional Medical Officer in the Railways | 450 |
| II (ii) | General Duty Medical Officer in New Delhi Municipal Council | 14 |
| II (iii) | General Duty Medical Officer Grade-II in Municipal Corporation of Delhi | 30 |
| Total | 1358 |
Important Notes:
- Vacancies are tentative and subject to change.
- Reservation for SC/ST/OBC/EWS/PwBD candidates will apply as per government norms.
- PwBD vacancies are specified in the notification (see Appendix V for physical requirements).
✅ Eligibility UPSC Medical Service Recruitment
1. Nationality
You must be either:
- A citizen of India, OR
- A subject of Nepal/Bhutan, OR
- A Tibetan refugee (who came to India before Jan 1, 1962), OR
- A person of Indian origin migrated from specified countries.
2. Age Limit
- For Central Health Service (CHS) Medical Officers: Must not have attained 35 years as of 1st August 2026 (born not earlier than 2nd August 1991).
- For all other posts (Railways, NDMC, MCD): Must not have attained 32 years as of 1st August 2026 (born not earlier than 2nd August 1994).
Age Relaxation:
- SC/ST: Up to 5 years.
- OBC (Non-Creamy Layer): Up to 3 years.
- PwBD: Up to 10 years (cumulative with category relaxation).
- Ex-Servicemen: Up to 5 years.
3. Educational Qualification
- You must have passed the final M.B.B.S. Examination (written and practical parts).
- Important: Candidates who are yet to appear or have appeared for their final exam can also apply provisionally. However, they must submit proof of passing within the specified time after the written exam result.
- Candidates who have not yet completed their compulsory rotating internship are eligible to apply but will be appointed only after completing it.
🗓️ How to Apply: A Step-by-Step Guide
The application process is completely online via the UPSC website: https://upsconline.nic.in
The process involves four key steps (or “modules”):
Step 1: One-Time Registration (Account Creation)
- Create an account on the UPSC portal. This will generate a unique Universal Registration Number (URN) . Keep this safe for life—it’s your common ID for all future UPSC exams.
Step 2: Fill the Common Application Form (CAF)
- Fill in your basic details, upload your photo and signature as per the instructions.
- Photo: Must be uploaded and also undergo a “live photo capture” while filling the form.
- Signature: You must sign three times (one below the other) on white paper with a black pen and upload the image.
Step 3: Fill the Examination-Specific Form
- This is for CMS 2026. You will select your examination centre and pay the fee.
Step 4: Submit and Generate Application Number
- After final submission, you will receive an Application Number for this specific exam. Note this down for all future correspondence.
Fee:
- ₹200/- for all candidates.
- Exempted from Fee: Female candidates, SC/ST candidates, and Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD).
- Payment Modes: Net Banking, Visa/Master/RuPay Credit/Debit Card, UPI.
Last Date to Apply: 31st March 2026, up to 6:00 PM. No corrections or withdrawals are allowed after submission.
📝 Exam Pattern & Syllabus
The CMS exam consists of two parts: a Written Exam and a Personality Test (Interview).
Part 1: Written Examination (500 Marks)
The written exam is on 2nd August 2026 and consists of two objective-type papers.
| Paper | Subject | Total Questions | Duration | Maximum Marks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper I | General Medicine (96 Qs) & Paediatrics (24 Qs) | 120 | 2 Hours | 250 |
| Paper II | Surgery, Gynaecology & Obstetrics, Preventive & Social Medicine (40 Qs each) | 120 | 2 Hours | 250 |
- Syllabus: The exam is of MBBS standard. The detailed syllabus for each subject is provided in Appendix-I of the notification.
- Negative Marking: There is a penalty for wrong answers. 1/3rd of the marks allotted to a question will be deducted for every incorrect answer.
Part 2: Personality Test (100 Marks)
- Candidates who qualify in the written exam will be called for an interview/personality test.
- It assesses your intellectual curiosity, critical thinking, judgment, leadership qualities, and general awareness.
⚠️ Crucial Information for Candidates
- Penalty for Wrong Answers: As mentioned above, negative marking applies. Be careful while answering.
- e-Admit Card: Will be released on the last working day of the week preceding the exam. It will be available for download on the UPSC website. No hard copies will be sent by post.
- Photo ID Card: Carry the same Photo ID (Aadhaar, Voter ID, PAN, etc.) whose details you provided in the application to the exam hall.
- Face Authentication: All candidates will undergo mandatory face authentication at the exam venue. Arrive early.
- Banned Items: Mobile phones (even switched off), smartwatches, Bluetooth devices, calculators, and any other electronic gadgets are strictly prohibited inside the exam hall.
- Centre Allotment: Centres are allotted on a “first-apply-first-allot” basis. Apply early to get a centre of your choice. Once a centre’s capacity is full, it will be disabled.
- Withdrawal of Application: No withdrawals are permitted once the application is submitted.
- Representation on Answer Keys: Candidates who appear for the exam will have a 5-day window (from the 3rd day to the 7th day after the exam) to submit online representations against the provisional answer keys.
✅ Final Checklist Before You Apply
- Read the full notification on the UPSC website to confirm your eligibility.
- Keep your MBBS degree certificate/internship completion certificate handy.
- Have a scanned photograph (20-200 KB) and scanned signature (20-100 KB) ready.
- Keep a valid Photo ID (Aadhaar, PAN, etc.) and your bank details for fee payment ready.
- Create your URN on the UPSC portal if you haven’t already.
- Fill the form carefully, double-checking all details, especially date of birth and category.
- Submit the form and pay the fee before 31st March 2026, 6:00 PM.
- Save your URN and Application Number for future reference.
Good luck with your preparation for the Combined Medical Services Examination, 2026!
UPSC CMS Combined Medical Service Important Links
- Apply Online: Click here
- Official Notification PDF: Click here
- Official Website: Click here
