The Combined Medical Services Examination (CMSE) is conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) annually to recruit medical graduates into various Central Government Organizations and Services. They are recruited on the posts of Assistant Medical Officer, General Duty Medical Officer, Assistant Divisional Medical Officer, and staff on the junior scale.
| Exam | Combined Medical Services Examination (CMSE) |
| Exam Conducting Body | UPSC |
| Exam level | National |
| Number of times conducted | Once in a year |
| Mode of exam | Computer- based(Online) |
| Educational Qualifications | MBBS |
| Upper Age Limit | 32 years |
| No. of papers | 2 |
| Exam Pattern | Objective type |
| Duration of Exam | 1 Day |
| Official Website | www.upsc.gov.in |
UPSC CMS Eligibility Criteria
Nationality :
- The applicant should be an Indian Citizen.
- Subjects of Nepal, Bhutan or Tibetan Refugees who have migrated to India before 1st January 1962 are eligible to apply for the exam.
- People of Indian Origin from Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Burma, Vietnam or East Africa (Kenya, Uganda, Zambia, Malawi, Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Zaire) can apply for the exam.
Age Limit :
The applicant should not have attained 32 years of age by 1st August 2022. It means the candidate should not have been born prior to 2nd August 1989.
There is age relaxation for the following category of candidates –
- OBC – 3 Years
- SC/ ST – 5 Years
- PWD – Candidates who are physically challenged get an age relaxation of 10 years.
- Jammu & Kashmir candidates – Students belonging to Jammu & Kashmir get an age relaxation of 5 years.
- ECOS/ SSCOs – Candidates who have served as ECOs/ SSCOs get an age relaxation of 5 years.
- Defence Service Personnel – Candidates of Defence Service get an age relaxation of 3 years.
Educational Qualifications :
- The candidate should have completed MBBS and the minimum period of internship to become eligible for the exam.
- Those students who are in the final year of the MBBS can also apply. But they should produce their MBBS Passing Certificate and Internship Certificate once they get selected for the exam. Their admission will be treated Provisional.
- The same above condition applies to candidates who are yet to complete their rotating internship.
UPSC CMS Exam Pattern
- Stage 1 : Computer based Tests
- Stage 2 : Interview/ Personality Test
Computer based Test :
- It is a Computer Based Test that consists of two papers – Paper 1 and Paper 2.
- Each paper carries 250 marks.
- The total mark of the CBT is 500.
- The questions in both papers on CBT are objective type. Four options are given before every question. A student is required to choose the correct answer.
- There is a scheme of negative marking in the CBT papers. For every incorrect answer, 1/3 marks will be deducted.
- Each paper will be of 2 hours duration.
| Paper 1: Subject Name | Number of questions |
| General Ability | 30 |
| General Medicine | 70 |
| Paediatrics | 20 |
| Paper 2: Subject Name | Number of questions |
| Preventive and Social Medicine | 40 |
| Surgery | 40 |
| Gynaecology | 40 |
Interview/Personality Test
During the interview stage, candidates are tested for their leadership skills; social skills; readiness to accept responsibilities; the capacity to take the initiative; and withstand pressures.
