CMS
Union Public Service Commission
🏛️ UPSC
🇮🇳 National level
● Active
UPSC CMS (Combined Medical Services Examination) is conducted by the Union Public Service Commission to recruit for: Medical Officer Grade in the General Duty Medical Officers Sub-cadre of the Central Health Service, Assistant Divisional Medical Officer in the Railways, and General Duty Medical Officer in the MCD and NDMC. Selection is through Computer Based Examination (Paper-I and Paper-II), followed by Personality Test / Interview.
CMS 2026 — Key Facts at a Glance
| Exam name | UPSC CMS — Combined Medical Services Examination |
|---|---|
| Conducting body | Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), Government of India |
| Latest cycle | CMS 2026 |
| Vacancies | 1,358 — 864 Medical Officers in the Central Health Service, 450 Assistant Divisional Medical Officers in the Railways, 30 in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi and 14 in the New Delhi Municipal Council |
| Posts | Medical Officer Grade in the General Duty Medical Officers Sub-cadre of the Central Health Service, Assistant Divisional Medical Officer in the Railways, and General Duty Medical Officer in the MCD and NDMC |
| Qualification | Passed the written and practical parts of the final MBBS examination. Candidates who have appeared, or are yet to appear, at the final MBBS may apply — admission is provisional until proof of passing is produced. |
| Age limit | Must not have attained 32 years as on 1 August 2026. The upper limit is relaxed for candidates already in government service and for reserved categories. |
| Number of attempts | No limit on attempts within the age window. |
| Application fee | ₹200. Female, SC, ST and PwBD candidates are exempted. |
| Selection stages | Computer Based Examination (Paper-I and Paper-II) → Personality Test / Interview |
| Total marks | Written 500 marks (Paper-I 250 + Paper-II 250) + Personality Test 100 marks = 600 marks |
| Negative marking | Yes — one third of the marks assigned to a question is deducted for each wrong answer. |
| Official website | upsc.gov.in |
UPSC CMS (Combined Medical Services Examination) is conducted by the Union Public Service Commission to recruit for Medical Officer Grade in the General Duty Medical Officers Sub-cadre of the Central Health Service, Assistant Divisional Medical Officer in the Railways, and General Duty Medical Officer in the MCD and NDMC. The CMS 2026 notification declares 1,358 — 864 Medical Officers in the Central Health Service, 450 Assistant Divisional Medical Officers in the Railways, 30 in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi and 14 in the New Delhi Municipal Council.
UPSC CMS selection process
- Computer Based Examination (Paper-I and Paper-II)
- Personality Test / Interview
UPSC CMS exam pattern
| Paper | Subjects | Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper-I | General Medicine and Paediatrics | 120 | 250 | 2 hours |
| Paper-II | Surgery, Gynaecology & Obstetrics, and Preventive & Social Medicine | 120 | 250 | 2 hours |
| Personality Test | Interview board | — | 100 | — |
Total marks
Written 500 marks (Paper-I 250 + Paper-II 250) + Personality Test 100 marks = 600 marks.
Negative marking
Yes — one third of the marks assigned to a question is deducted for each wrong answer.
UPSC does not normalise marks
This is the single most common misconception carried over from SSC. UPSC conducts each paper in one sitting with one question paper, so there are no shifts to equate and no normalisation formula. A published UPSC cut off is a raw mark you could actually have scored on the paper — which is why the figures are clean numbers rather than five-decimal scores.
What is next for UPSC CMS
CMS 2026 is on 2 August 2026. The CMS 2027 notification is due on 3 March 2027 for an examination on 18 July 2027.
💬 Frequently Asked Questions
What is the UPSC CMS vacancy for CMS 2026?
1,358 — 864 Medical Officers in the Central Health Service, 450 Assistant Divisional Medical Officers in the Railways, 30 in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi and 14 in the New Delhi Municipal Council. UPSC states in the notice that the number is liable to alteration.
What is the age limit for UPSC CMS?
Must not have attained 32 years as on 1 August 2026. The upper limit is relaxed for candidates already in government service and for reserved categories.. The upper limit is relaxed by 5 years for SC and ST, 3 years for OBC, and up to 10 years for PwBD candidates.
What qualification is required for UPSC CMS?
Passed the written and practical parts of the final MBBS examination. Candidates who have appeared, or are yet to appear, at the final MBBS may apply — admission is provisional until proof of passing is produced.
How many attempts are allowed for UPSC CMS?
No limit on attempts within the age window.
What is the UPSC CMS application fee?
₹200. Female, SC, ST and PwBD candidates are exempted.
Is there negative marking in UPSC CMS?
Yes — one third of the marks assigned to a question is deducted for each wrong answer.
What is the UPSC CMS selection process?
Selection is through Computer Based Examination (Paper-I and Paper-II), followed by Personality Test / Interview.
What are the total marks in UPSC CMS?
Written 500 marks (Paper-I 250 + Paper-II 250) + Personality Test 100 marks = 600 marks.
What is the UPSC CMS salary?
Pay Level 10 of the 7th CPC Pay Matrix (₹56,100 basic), plus Non-Practising Allowance and the usual central government allowances, plus Dearness Allowance, House Rent Allowance and Transport Allowance.
Does UPSC normalise marks in UPSC CMS?
No. UPSC conducts each paper in a single sitting with one question paper, so there are no shifts to equate and no normalisation. Published cut offs are raw marks.
When does UPSC release the UPSC CMS answer key?
Only after the final result for that cycle is declared, under the Commission's disclosure policy. There is no post-exam challenge window of the kind SSC runs.
Where do I download the UPSC CMS admit card?
From upsc.gov.in. The e-Admit Card appears about two to three weeks before the examination and is not posted to candidates.
Do I need to register separately for UPSC CMS?
No. UPSC issues a Universal Registration Number (URN) that is registered once in a lifetime and used for every UPSC examination. Only the examination-specific module is filled per exam.
What is next for UPSC CMS?
CMS 2026 is on 2 August 2026. The CMS 2027 notification is due on 3 March 2027 for an examination on 18 July 2027.