UPSC CMS Recruitment 2026 Notification Out for 1,358 Medical Officer Posts – Apply Online by 31 March

UPSC CMS Recruitment 2026 Overview

The Combined Medical Services Examination 2026 is conducted by the Union Public Service Commission to recruit doctors for central government medical services such as Railways and Central Health Service. With 1,358 vacancies, this recruitment remains one of the largest government opportunities for MBBS graduates seeking stable medical officer positions in the public sector.

The exam also offers structured career progression and stable pay under the 7th Pay Commission Level-10 pay matrix, making it highly attractive for early-career medical professionals.

UPSC CMS Recruitment 2026 Highlights

UPSC CMS Recruitment 2026 Important Dates

UPSC CMS 2026 Vacancy Details

PwBD reservations are also provided across selected posts as per government rules.

UPSC CMS 2026 Eligibility Criteria

Educational Qualification

Candidates must meet the following academic requirements:

• Must have passed the written and practical parts of the final MBBS examination.
• Final-year MBBS students awaiting results may also apply.
• Appointment will be granted only after completion of the compulsory rotating internship.

Nationality

A candidate must be:

• Citizen of India, or
• Subject of Nepal or Bhutan, or
• Tibetan refugee who migrated before 01 January 1962, or
• Person of Indian origin from specified countries with Government eligibility certificate.

Age Limit (as on 01 August 2026)

Age relaxations:

• SC/ST: 5 years
• OBC: 3 years
• PwBD: 10 years
• Ex-Servicemen / Defence Personnel: As per rules

UPSC CMS 2026 Age Eligibility Checker

Explanation: Candidates must not have attained 32 years of age by 01 August 2026, meaning they should be born on or after 02 August 1994 to meet the general category age requirement.

UPSC CMS 2026 Application Fee

Payment Mode: Online via Net Banking, Debit Card, Credit Card, or UPI.

UPSC CMS 2026 Salary and Pay Scale

Doctors recruited through CMS are entitled to Non-Practising Allowance (NPA) and other government benefits.

UPSC CMS 2026 Selection Process

The recruitment process consists of two stages:

1. Written Examination – 500 Marks
2. Personality Test / Interview – 100 Marks

Total Marks: 600

Written Exam Pattern

Key points:

• Objective type questions
• Negative marking of 1/3 mark for wrong answers
• Question papers available only in English

UPSC CMS 2026 Subject-Wise Weightage and Preparation Focus

The UPSC CMS examination heavily focuses on clinical medicine and preventive healthcare disciplines. Historically, General Medicine and Preventive & Social Medicine contribute a large proportion of questions, reflecting the government healthcare system’s focus on public health services.

Preparation strategy:

• General Medicine: Cardiovascular, respiratory diseases, infectious diseases, endocrinology and emergency medicine require strong conceptual understanding.
• Preventive & Social Medicine: Public health programs, epidemiology and vaccination programs are frequently tested.
• Surgery and Obstetrics-Gynaecology: Focus on clinical case-based questions and diagnostic procedures.
• Paediatrics: Growth milestones, neonatal care and immunization schedules are key topics.

Because the exam is objective and clinically oriented, candidates who revise standard MBBS textbooks and previous CMS papers generally gain a competitive advantage.

UPSC CMS Recruitment 2026 Important Links