UPSC CMS Syllabus 2026: Medicine, Paediatrics, Surgery and PSM
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Summary
Subject-wise UPSC CMS syllabus guide with Paper I and Paper II topics, previous-paper strategy and revision plan.
UPSC CMS Syllabus 2026: Complete Subject-wise Guide
The UPSC CMS written examination has two objective papers, each carrying 250 marks. Paper I covers General Medicine and Paediatrics. Paper II covers Surgery, Gynaecology and Obstetrics, and Preventive and Social Medicine. Each paper has 120 questions.
Paper I: General Medicine and Paediatrics
General Medicine includes cardiology, respiratory diseases, gastro-intestinal conditions, genito-urinary disease, neurology, haematology, endocrinology, metabolic disorders, infections and communicable diseases, nutrition and growth, dermatology, musculoskeletal disease, psychiatry, emergency medicine, poisoning, snakebite, tropical medicine, critical care, medical procedures, pathophysiological basis of disease and vaccines.
Paediatrics includes common childhood emergencies, basic newborn care, normal developmental milestones, accidents and poisoning in children, birth defects and counselling including autism, immunisation, recognising children with special needs and national programmes related to child health.
Paper II: Surgery
The Surgery syllabus includes general surgery, wounds, infections, tumours, lymphatics, blood vessels, cysts and sinuses, head and neck, breast, alimentary tract, liver, bile duct, pancreas, spleen, peritoneum, abdominal wall and abdominal injuries. It also includes urological surgery, neurosurgery, ENT, thoracic surgery, orthopaedic surgery, ophthalmology, anaesthesiology and traumatology.
Prepare common presentations, indications, complications, emergency management, trauma protocols, perioperative care and high-yield clinical decision points. Use concise comparison tables and practise applying concepts through clinical vignettes.
Paper II: Gynaecology and Obstetrics
Prepare antenatal care, normal pregnancy, labour, complications of pregnancy, obstetric emergencies, postpartum care, contraception, infertility, menstrual disorders, common gynaecological diseases, pelvic pathology, malignancy, reproductive health and national programmes. Revise diagnosis, management, screening, contraindications and emergency algorithms.
Paper II: Preventive and Social Medicine
Prepare epidemiology, biostatistics, communicable and non-communicable diseases, screening, nutrition, maternal and child health, immunisation, occupational health, environmental health, health education, health planning, national health programmes, demography, vital statistics, public health administration and health indicators.
Connect PSM preparation with current Indian health programmes and field-level implementation. Practise calculations and interpretation in epidemiology and biostatistics.
How to study the CMS syllabus
Make a topic tracker with columns for first reading, MCQ practice, previous-paper questions, error review and final revision. Study standard clinical patterns first, then add rare but repeatedly tested facts. Use active recall for drug choices, diagnostic criteria, vaccines, screening, national programmes and emergency steps.
A practical plan is to complete one full subject pass, solve topic-wise MCQs, take mixed tests, revise errors, and finish with full-length simulations. Do not leave PSM or Paediatrics entirely for the end.
Previous papers and revision
Download official previous CMS papers from UPSC. Solve them under timed conditions, classify mistakes as knowledge, interpretation, calculation or careless error, and revisit the corresponding topic. Repeat wrong questions after a gap so that revision tests retention rather than recognition.
Official sources
The notification and rules are final for the current syllabus and paper scheme.