UPSC Notification — F.No. 3/3/2026-CMS · 11 March 2026
UPSC Combined Medical Services
Examination (CMS) 2026
Union Public Service Commission invites MBBS graduates to apply for ~1,358 Medical Officer posts across Central Health Service, Indian Railways, NDMC & MCD. Highest CMS vacancy count in recent years. Exam on 2 August 2026.
📋 ~1,358 Posts
🏛️ Central Govt Group A & B
📅 Last Date: 31 March 2026
🎓 MBBS Required
✍️ Exam: 2 August 2026
💰 Salary: ₹56,100 + NPA + DA
1,358
Total Vacancies
5
Services / Depts
MBBS
Qualification
2 Aug
Exam Date
31 Mar
Last Date
₹200
App. Fee (Gen)
⏳ TIME REMAINING TO APPLY
--
Days
--
Hours
--
Mins
--
Secs
Last date: 31 March 2026, 6:00 PM
01
Important Dates
Official Notification Released
11 March 2026
Online Application Window Opens
11 March 2026 — Open Now
Last Date to Apply Online & Pay Fee
31 March 2026 — 6:00 PM
Admit Card / e-Hall Ticket Download
~3 Weeks Before Exam (July 2026)
Computer-Based Examination — Paper I & Paper II
2 August 2026 (Sunday)
Written Exam Result & Interview Shortlist
To Be Announced — upsc.gov.in
Personality Test / Interview (UPSC Board, New Delhi)
Oct–Dec 2026 (Tentative)
02
Vacancy Details — Service-wise
| Category | Post / Designation | Organisation | Group | Pay Level | Posts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central Health Service~864 Posts | |||||
| Category I & III | General Duty Medical Officer (GDMO) Junior Scale — CHS |
Ministry of Health & Family Welfare Central Govt Hospitals, CGHS Dispensaries |
Group A | Level-10 | ~864 |
| Indian Railways~450 Posts | |||||
| Category II | Asst. Divisional Medical Officer (ADMO) Railways Medical Dept |
All Zonal Railways across India Railway Hospitals & Health Units |
Group B | Level-10 | ~450 |
| Municipal Bodies & Others~44+ Posts | |||||
| Category III | Asst. Medical Officer (AMO) Ordnance Factories |
Indian Ordnance Factories Health Service | Group B | Level-10 | —* |
| Category IV | General Duty Medical Officer NDMC |
New Delhi Municipal Council | Group B | Level-10 | ~14 |
| Category V | GDMO Grade II MCD Delhi |
East / North / South Delhi MCD | Group B | Level-10 | ~30 |
| Approximate Grand Total | ~1,358 | ||||
📍 Vacancy figures are approximate and may be revised before the final merit list. Category-wise (UR/SC/ST/OBC/EWS/PwBD) split will be published separately. CMS 2026 (~1,358) is significantly higher than CMS 2025 (705 posts) and CMS 2024 (844 posts).
03
Eligibility Criteria
Nationality
Citizen of India, OR subject of Nepal / Bhutan, OR Tibetan refugee settled in India before 1 January 1962, OR person of Indian origin migrated permanently from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, East African countries (Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Malawi, Zaire, Ethiopia, Zambia) or Vietnam.
Educational Qualification
MBBS Degree from a university / institution recognised under the NMC Act, 2019. Also eligible:
- Candidates who have passed the written & practical parts of final MBBS (awaiting result / convocation)
- Candidates appearing in final year MBBS exam (provisional candidature)
Age Limit — as on 1 August 2026
Maximum: 32 years (Unreserved / General). No minimum age prescribed.
OBC (Central List): +3 years → Max 35 years
SC / ST: +5 years → Max 37 years
PwBD – UR: +10 years → Max 42 years
PwBD – OBC: +13 years → Max 45 years
PwBD – SC/ST: +15 years → Max 47 years
Ex-Servicemen (UR): Service rendered + 3 years → Max 40 years
J&K Residents (1980–1989): +5 years → Max 37 years
OBC (Central List): +3 years → Max 35 years
SC / ST: +5 years → Max 37 years
PwBD – UR: +10 years → Max 42 years
PwBD – OBC: +13 years → Max 45 years
PwBD – SC/ST: +15 years → Max 47 years
Ex-Servicemen (UR): Service rendered + 3 years → Max 40 years
J&K Residents (1980–1989): +5 years → Max 37 years
Internship & NMC Registration
Candidates who have passed final MBBS but not yet completed compulsory rotating internship may still apply. Internship must be completed on or before 31 March 2027. Proof required at time of joining. NMC registration certificate is mandatory before appointment orders are issued.
⛔ Who Cannot Apply
- Candidates already appointed via a previous CMS exam who still hold that post.
- Candidates debarred / disqualified by UPSC or any State PSC in India.
- Candidates married to a person with a living spouse (without lawful government exemption).
- Candidates whose MBBS degree is not recognised by the National Medical Commission (NMC).
- Candidates not satisfying Central Government character and antecedent standards.
04
Application Fee
₹200
General / OBC / EWS
Online payment only · Non-refundable
SBI Net Banking / Card / UPI
SBI Net Banking / Card / UPI
NIL
SC / ST / PwBD / All Women
Fully exempted — no payment needed
All female candidates pay zero regardless of category
All female candidates pay zero regardless of category
💡 Payment is made through the UPSC OTR portal (upsconline.nic.in). Fee once paid is non-refundable and non-transferable under any circumstance. All women are fee-exempt regardless of their category — UR/OBC/EWS women pay nothing.
05
Exam Pattern & Syllabus
500 Marks CBT
100 Marks Interview
600 Total Marks
2 Papers × 250 Marks
2 Hours Each
−1/3 Negative Marking
PAPER I
250 Marks
📘 General Medicine
CardiologyRespiratoryGastroenterologyNeurologyHaematologyEndocrinologyNephrologyHepatologyConnective TissueCommunicable DiseasesProtozoan DiseasesSTDsNutritional DisordersOccupational DiseasesPsychological Disorders
👶 Paediatrics
Common Childhood DiseasesChild NutritionNeonatal ConditionsImmunisationGrowth & DevelopmentPaediatric Emergencies
PAPER II
250 Marks
🔪 Surgery
General SurgeryGI SurgeryUrologyCardiothoracicTrauma & OrthopaedicsNeurosurgeryBurns
🤰 Gynaecology & Obstetrics
Normal DeliveryHigh-Risk PregnancyFamily PlanningGenital InfectionsGynaecological EmergenciesMedicolegal Obstetrics
🌍 Preventive & Social Medicine
EpidemiologyBiostatisticsNational Health ProgrammesNHM/NRHMEnvironmental HealthHealth AdministrationDisease SurveillanceHealth Economics
| Stage | Component | Marks | Duration | Negative Marking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part I — CBT | Paper I: General Medicine + Paediatrics | 250 | 2 Hours | 1/3 per wrong |
| Part I — CBT | Paper II: Surgery + Gynae & Obstetrics + PSM | 250 | 2 Hours | 1/3 per wrong |
| Part II | Personality Test (Interview — UPSC Board) | 100 | ~30 min | — |
| Grand Total | 600 | — | — | |
📌 Minimum qualifying marks: General/OBC/EWS — 25% per paper. PwBD — 15% per paper. English medium only — no Hindi or bilingual option. PwBD candidates needing a scribe must declare it at the time of application.
06
Selection Process
1
Computer-Based Examination (CBT) — 500 Marks
Two MCQ papers (250 marks each, 2 hours each) on 2 August 2026 (Sunday) in two shifts. Negative marking of 1/3 per wrong answer. Minimum qualifying marks: 25% per paper for General/OBC/EWS and 15% per paper for PwBD. UPSC may apply score normalisation if exam is held in multiple shifts.
2
Shortlisting for Personality Test
Based on CBT merit, candidates are shortlisted at up to 3× the advertised vacancies per category per service. Shortlisted candidates fill the Detailed Application Form (DAF) online — this is where service preference (CHS / Railways / NDMC / MCD / IOFHS) is declared.
3
Personality Test (Interview) — 100 Marks
Held at UPSC, Dholpur House, New Delhi. ~30-minute structured interview by a board of UPSC members and medical experts. Evaluates clinical knowledge, medical ethics, communication skills, and suitability for central government medical service. No specific syllabus — broad MBBS-level clinical judgment is tested.
4
Final Merit List, Document Verification & Joining
Final merit on CBT + Interview out of 600 marks. Service allocated by merit-cum-preference. Selected candidates undergo document verification and a Government Medical Board fitness examination before appointment orders are issued.
No Attempt Limit
English Medium Only
All-India Posting
Group A & B Central Govt Service
NPA + DA + HRA Included
07
Salary & Pay Scale
GDMO — Central Health Service (Group A)
₹56,100
starting basic pay / month · Level-10, 7th CPC
NPA: ₹11,220/mo (20% of basic) · DA: ~58% of Basic+NPA · HRA: 24%/16%/8% · Pay range up to ₹1,77,500
ADMO — Indian Railways (Group B)
₹56,100
starting basic pay / month · Level-10, 7th CPC
NPA: 20% of Basic · DA + HRA + TA as per Railway Board · Free pass for self & family on Railways
GDMO — NDMC / MCD (Group B)
₹56,100
starting basic pay / month · Level-10
Restricted NPA applicable · NDMC/MCD allowances · Delhi posting · Housing assistance
AMO — Indian Ordnance Factories (Group B)
₹56,100
starting basic pay / month · Level-10
NPA applicable · Occupational health focus · CGHS coverage for self & family
💡 Gross salary at entry in a metro city: approx. ₹1.05L–₹1.30L per month (Basic + NPA + DA + HRA + TA). In-hand after NPS & tax deductions: ~₹75,000–₹90,000. Non-Practicing Allowance (NPA) at 20% of basic pay is a major benefit unique to government doctors — it compensates for not running private practice.
08
How to Apply
1
Complete One-Time Registration (OTR) at upsconline.nic.in
New users must first complete OTR — fill basic personal details, upload your live photograph (20–200 KB JPG, captured via portal) and signature (black ink, signed 3 times on white paper, 20–100 KB). Generate your OTR ID. Existing OTR users log in directly — no fresh registration needed.
2
Open CMS 2026 Examination Specific Application
After OTR login, go to "Active Examinations" and select "Combined Medical Services Examination, 2026". Open the Examination Specific Module. Your OTR personal details will be pre-filled — verify them carefully.
3
Fill MBBS, Category & Centre Preference Details
Enter your MBBS university, year of passing, roll number, exam status (passed / appearing), internship status, category (UR/SC/ST/OBC/EWS/PwBD), and up to 3 exam centre preferences in order of priority. All details must be accurate — corrections are generally not allowed after submission.
4
Pay Application Fee Online
General / OBC / EWS candidates pay ₹200 via SBI Net Banking, Credit/Debit Card, or UPI. SC / ST / PwBD and all women pay nothing and submit directly. Note the transaction ID and generated application number.
5
Submit & Download Confirmation Page
Review every field, click "Final Submit". Download and print your confirmation page with the system-generated application number. This number is needed for admit card download, result checking, and all UPSC correspondence. Do not wait — apply well before 31 March 2026, 6:00 PM.
09
Frequently Asked Questions
What posts are offered in UPSC CMS 2026?
+UPSC CMS 2026 offers ~1,358 posts across five services: GDMO in Central Health Service (~864, Group A), ADMO in Indian Railways (~450, Group B), AMO in Indian Ordnance Factories (limited, Group B), GDMO in NDMC (~14) and GDMO Grade II in Delhi MCD (~30). This is the highest vacancy count in recent CMS history — significantly more than CMS 2025 (705 posts) and CMS 2024 (844 posts).
Can final year MBBS students apply for UPSC CMS 2026?
+Yes. Candidates currently appearing in the final year MBBS exam are eligible to apply on a provisional basis. Candidates who have passed the written and practical parts of final MBBS (awaiting results or convocation) are also eligible. However, both the MBBS degree and compulsory rotating internship must be completed before joining (internship deadline: 31 March 2027). Inability to produce these certificates leads to cancellation of candidature.
Is there a limit on number of attempts for UPSC CMS?
+No. Unlike UPSC CSE (IAS), UPSC CMS has no restriction on number of attempts. Candidates can appear as many times as they wish until they cross the age limit (32 years for General category as on 1 August of the exam year). This makes CMS a second-chance-friendly exam for doctors who have appeared previously.
What is the salary after UPSC CMS selection?
+All posts are at Pay Level-10 (7th CPC), starting basic pay ₹56,100/month. Key additions: Non-Practicing Allowance (NPA) ~₹11,220/month (20% of basic), Dearness Allowance (~58% of Basic+NPA), HRA (24%/16%/8%), and Transport Allowance. Gross salary in a metro city: ~₹1.05L–₹1.30L per month. In-hand after NPS and tax: ~₹75,000–₹90,000.
How is service allocation (CHS vs Railways vs others) decided?
+Service preference is filled during the Detailed Application Form (DAF) stage — only after clearing the written exam, not at the initial application. Based on your final combined rank (CBT + Interview out of 600) and DAF preferences, UPSC allocates you to a service. Higher-ranked candidates typically get CHS (Group A) and Railways ADMO (Group B). NDMC, MCD, and Ordnance posts are filled from the remaining merit list. Research each service's work culture and promotion speed before expressing preferences.
What is the exam date and pattern for UPSC CMS 2026?
+The Computer-Based Examination is on 2 August 2026 (Sunday). Two papers of 250 marks each (2 hours each): Paper I covers General Medicine & Paediatrics; Paper II covers Surgery, Gynaecology & Obstetrics, and PSM. All MCQ, negative marking of 1/3 per wrong answer. Followed by a Personality Test of 100 marks. Grand total: 600 marks. Admit cards available ~3 weeks before on upsc.gov.in.
Is UPSC CMS exam conducted in Hindi or English?
+UPSC CMS is conducted exclusively in English. There is no Hindi or regional language option for the CBT. All question papers, instructions, and content are in English only. This applies to all five categories of posts offered. The Personality Test is also primarily in English. There is no bilingual paper option.
What is the application fee and last date for UPSC CMS 2026?
+General / OBC / EWS candidates pay ₹200 online. SC / ST / PwBD and all women are fully exempt (zero fee). The last date is 31 March 2026 at 6:00 PM. Apply at upsconline.nic.in. No extensions are given. Apply early to avoid last-minute technical issues on the portal.
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