UPSC CMS Preparation 2020 – UPSC Combined Medical Services (CMS) Examination is conducted for recruitment of medical officers in different organizations under the government of India. Through this examination, candidates can pursue their career in the medical field working with various government organisations. The test aims at evaluating a candidate’s performance and ability to work as a medical officer. Candidates have to clear a written test and on qualifying this stage, they appear in an interview. Final selections are made on the basis of total marks scored in both the stages. It is really necessary to prepare well for both the stages in order to crack it. Read to know some useful preparation tips from below.
UPSC CMS Exam Preparation 2020
To start the preparation for the exam it is a must to know the syllabus for the examination. Without the full knowledge of the syllabus, it is tough to have a good preparation strategy and method. Check the UPSC CMS Syllabus from below:
Paper I (250 Marks)
In Paper I, candidates have to prepare two sections: General Medicine and Paediatrics.
General Medicine
- 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)
- Musculoskelatal System
- Psychiatry
- 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
- In psychiatry include – Depression, psychosis, anxiety, bipolar diseases and Schizoprenia
Paediatrics
- Common childhood emergencies,
- Basic new born care,
- Normal developmental milestones,
- Accidents and poisonings in children,
- Birth defects and counseling including autism,
- Immunization in children,
- Recognizing children with special needs and management, and
- National programmes related to child health.
Paper II (250 Marks)
Surgery
- Candidates are required to possess in depth knowledge of wounds, infections, tumours, blood vessels, cysts/sinuses, head & neck, breast etc.
- A complete knowledge of Alimentary tract a) Oesophagus b) Stomach c) Intestines d) Anus e) Developmental is required.
- Apart from this, one must be well aware with the concepts of Liver, Bile, Pancreas, Spleen, Peritoneum, Abdominal wall and abdominal injuries.
- For Part II of the Surgery Section candidates need to prepare topics of Urological Surgery, Neuro Surgery, Otorhinolaryngology (ENT), Thoracic Surgery, Orthopaedic Surgery, Ophthalmology, Anaesthesiology, Traumatology, Diagnosis and management of common surgical ailment, Pre‐operative and post-operative care of surgical patients, Wound healing, Fluid and electrolyte management in surgery and Shock pathophysiology and management.
Gynaecology & Obstetrics
This very section is further divided into three parts i.e. Gynaecology, Obstetrics and Family Planning.
- For the Obstetrics section, one should study about Ante-natal conditions, Intra-natal conditions, Post-natal conditions and Management of normal labours or complicated labour in detail.
- For the Gynaecology section, candidates must prepare topics like applied anatomy, applied physiology of menstruation and fertilization, displacement of the uterus, infections in the genital tract and neo plasma in the genital tract, Normal delivery and safe delivery practices, High risk pregnancy and management, Abortions, Intra Uterine growth retardation and Medicolegal examination in obgy and Gynae including Rape.
- For the preparation of the Family Planning section, topics like Conventional Contraceptives, UD and Oral Pills, Operation Procedure, Sterilization and Organization of programmes in the urban and rural surroundings and Medical Termination of Pregnancy must be prepared in detail.
Preventive Social & Community Medicine
- A total of ninteen topics such as Social and Community Medicine, concepts of Health, Disease and Preventive Medicine etc. are to be prepared.
- Candidates must read Health Administration and Planning, General Epidemiology, Demography and Health Statistics in detail.
- A knowledge of Communicable Diseases, Environmental Health and Nutrition and Health is also required.
- Along with this one should study topics like 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,
UPSC CMS Preparation Tips 2020
After looking at the syllabus it gets clear that the syllabus for UPSC CMS is very vast and deep. It will consume a huge amount of time of the candidate to complete the syllabus for the exam. So candidates have to strategically prepare for each subject of the exam wisely by making a proper schedule. List are some preparation strategies which are common and universal but are valid for all exam takers. Candidates can read them and imply if they find it useful and apt. These also include tips from the past toppers who have cleared the exam.
- Know the syllabus really well before starting the preparation. It gives clarity in the mind of the candidate as to how to proceed and how much time it will be needing to complete the syllabus.
- Don’t leave the questions on general topics. Sometimes they do come in any very unseen situation. So the candidates must prepare for such topics as well.
- No one can deny the importance of previous year question papers. Solving them give a candidate a boost and confidence about the level of preparation. They also tell them the amount of preparation more needed to effectively score well in the paper.
- According to Dr Aravind C, candidates should start their preparation at least 6 months before the examination. This provides enough time to complete the syllabus and also to practice the mock tests.
- Once done with the understanding of the syllabus, start by compiling the notes of the topics individually. Either handwrite them, get them print out or save them online. Whichever way suits, follow that, but just be ready with the notes of every topic.
- This is a very common and useful strategy to prepapre well for the exam. This is to separate the topics which carry higher weightage and topics which dont know and are not prepare for it. This segregation will help the candidate to focus first on these topics and then later on to the left topics.
Reference Books for UPSC CMS 2020
For the preparation, candidates can refer to the books mentioned below. These books are for computer based online examination and as per different sections of the examination.
For computer based examination
| Elsevier Comprehensive Guide To Combined Medical Services UPSC Simplified Supplement 2011 By Prakash Nayak. | Click here |
| UPSC Combined Medical Services Examination | Click here |
| UPSC Combined Medical Services Examination by M.S bhatia | Click here |
| Comprehensive Guide to Combined Medical Services by Rajeev Kumar | click here |
Stage 2: Personality Test of UPSC CMS 2020
- UPSC conducts an Interview/Personality test for the candidates who qualify in the Stage 1 examination.
- The Interview/ Personality Test carried a total of 100 marks.
- The Personality Test is aimed at testing the General Knowledge and ability of the candidates in the fields of their academic study.
- In addition, the personality test is designed to assess the candidate’s intellectual curiosity, critical powers of assimilation, balance of judgment and alertness of mind, ability for social cohesion, integrity of character, initiative and capability for leadership etc.
Preparation Tips for an Interview/ Personality Test
At this stage the candidates are examined on the basis of the personality they carry. The interviewer tries to intrigued the actual personality and mental thinking of an individual candidate. So at this stage they should focus on the following things:
- Be realistic, dont make up things.
- Be honest while answering questions. If the candidate have no idea about something, admit it.
- Dress up in formal clothing for the interview.
- Pay attention to the questions asked and give your answer to the point.
- Stay calm and maintain your posture during the interview.
- Taking Mock interviews helps as it prepares the candidate mentally for the interview.
Books for interview round:
| The UPSC Interview Deciphering the Personality Test by Pranav Mahajan. | click here |
| Interview for UPSC and other examinations by Madhukar Bhagat | click here |
UPSC CMS 2020 Selection Process
The UPSC CMS exam is conducted in two stages.
- Stage 1: Computer based examination
- Stage 2: Personality Test
Stage 1: Computer based examination – The Computer based examination consists of two papers. It is a Computer based examination. Each Paper carries 250 marks. Both the papers are of two hours duration making a total of 4 hours. Candidates are assessed on their knowledge of various subjects for example General Medicine, Surgery, Paediatrics etc.
- The Computer based examination is further divided as Paper 1 and Paper 2.
- Each paper carries 250 marks making it a total of 500 marks.
- Each paper consists of 120 questions.
- The time duration for each paper is 120 Minutes.
- Paper I questions on topics like General Medicine and Paediatrics. Paper II asks questions on topics like Surgery, Gynaecology & Obstetrics and Preventive & Social Medicine.
- This exam consists of objective type questions only.
- The questions are asked in English language only.
- For every wrong answer, 1/3rd of the marks assigned to each question will be deducted.
- In case a candidate fills more than one answer to a particular question, it will be treated as a wrong answer even if one of the answers is correct.
- No negative marking will there for unanswered questions.
- The Commission reserves right to fix qualifying marks in any or all the subjects.
Stage 2: Personality Test – The candidates who obtain the minimum qualifying marks in the Computer based examination move to the next level. The Personality Test carries 100 marks. The candidates are assessed on various skills for example balance of judgment & alertness of mind, integrity of character, ability for social cohesion, initiative and capability for leadership.
- UPSC declares the list of candidates who obtain the minimum qualifying marks in the stage 1 examination.
- The qualified candidates then appear for a Personality Test.
- Candidates are assessed on the basis of their skills such as general knowledge, critical powers of assimilation, balance of judgment & alertness of mind, integrity of character, ability for social cohesion, initiative and capability for leadership etc.
Final Selection
- For Final admission candidates should secure the minimum qualifying marks separately in :
- Computer based examination as fixed at the commission’s discretion.
- Personality Test
- The qualified candidates are selected on the basis of total marks secured by them in the Written Examination and the Personality Test.
- The final allocation/selection will be made as per number of vacancies available.
About UPSC CMS
The examination for the post of a medical officer, Combined Medical Services (CMS) is conducted by Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). Candidates must have passed the written and practical examination of MBBS examination of final year. The maximum age required for UPSC CMS is 32 years. The selection for the post of CMS is done in 2 stages which are written examination and personality test or interview round. Before the interview round, document verification round is also conducted to check the eligibility of the candidates.
