This post is the single verified reference for the UPSC CMS 2026 cycle on CrackCMS. Every date, number, and eligibility rule below is sourced from the official UPSC CMS 2026 notification on upsc.gov.in. If you find any discrepancy between this post and the official UPSC page, the official page is correct — please report it to our editorial team and we will update this post.
The fastest way to use this post: jump to the section you need from the table of contents. If you only have 60 seconds, read "Key dates at a glance" and "Vacancies" below.
UPSC CMS 2026 — key dates at a glance
These are the dates given in the official UPSC CMS 2026 notification:
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Date of notification | 11 March 2026 |
| Application window opens | 11 March 2026 |
| Last date to apply | 31 March 2026 |
| Admit card release | Expected in the week before the exam. Notified separately on upsc.gov.in. |
| Date of examination | 02 August 2026 (Sunday) |
| Result | Notified separately on upsc.gov.in. |
Important: the only primary source for these dates is the official UPSC CMS 2026 notification PDF on upsc.gov.in. The exam date is 02 August 2026, not any other date. If you see a different date elsewhere on the web, it is outdated or incorrect.
Vacancies: 1,358 Medical Officer posts
The UPSC CMS 2026 notification advertises 1,358 Medical Officer posts across multiple central government departments and services. The major categories of services for which recruitment is made through UPSC CMS include:
- Central Health Service (CHS) — medical officers in central government health institutions.
- Indian Railways — medical officers in railway health services.
- New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) — health posts under NDMC.
- Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) — health posts under MCD.
- Other central government posts — depending on the year's notification.
Caveat: the official notification publishes a category-wise vacancy breakdown (SC / ST / OBC / EWS / UR). Always check the latest notification PDF for the exact current-year split — these numbers vary each cycle.
Exam pattern (CBT, two papers)
The UPSC CMS 2026 exam is conducted as a Computer-Based Test (CBT) on a single day. The pattern is:
| Paper | Time | Subjects | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper I | 09:30 AM – 11:30 AM | General Medicine and Paediatrics | 250 |
| Paper II | 02:00 PM – 04:00 PM | Surgery, Gynaecology & Obstetrics, Preventive & Social Medicine | 250 |
| Total written | | | 500 |
| Personality Test | | | 100 |
| Grand total | | | 600 |
Key points to remember:
- The exam is CBT, not pen-and-paper. There is no OMR transfer step.
- Both papers are on the same day (02 August 2026).
- The two papers are scheduled with a gap in the middle of the day.
- The total written marks = 500 (250 + 250). The Personality Test adds 100 marks.
- The pattern of the written exam — number of questions, marks per question, negative marking — is published in the official notification PDF. Read the PDF before assuming anything from third-party blogs.
Eligibility — nationality, degree, age
Per the official UPSC CMS 2026 notification:
- Nationality: Indian citizen (or subject of Nepal/Bhutan; Tibetan refugee with intent to settle in India, per UPSC rules).
- Qualifying degree: MBBS (final year appearing or passed) from an NMC-recognised institution.
- Age limit: Not exceeding 32 years as on 01 August 2026, with category-wise age relaxation as per UPSC rules (SC / ST / OBC / PwD as applicable).
- Medical fitness: Must meet the physical/medical standards prescribed for the post applied for.
Verify the exact age relaxation for your category in the official notification PDF — the years and conditions are spelt out there in detail.
Syllabus overview
The official UPSC CMS notification mentions the broad areas covered. The standard CMS syllabus includes:
Paper I — General Medicine & Paediatrics: Cardiology, Respiratory medicine, Gastroenterology, Endocrinology, Neurology, Nephrology, Infectious diseases, Haematology, Rheumatology, Psychiatry, Dermatology, plus Paediatrics (neonatology, growth, immunisation, common childhood illnesses).
Paper II — Surgery, Gynaecology & Obstetrics, PSM: General surgery (including subspecialties), Obstetrics, Gynaecology, Preventive & Social Medicine, National Health Programmes, Epidemiology, Biostatistics, Nutrition, plus the standard surgery sub-topics (urology, GI surgery, trauma, oncology, burns, orthopaedics basics, anaesthesiology basics).
Always cross-check the latest syllabus against the official notification PDF before you start preparing.
Admit card
The UPSC CMS 2026 admit card will be released on the official UPSC website at upsc.gov.in. You will need:
- Your registration number, and
- Your date of birth,
to download it. The admit card is mandatory — without it, you will not be allowed to enter the exam centre. Carry it along with a valid photo ID.
UPSC does not publish a fixed admit-card release date in the original notification. Historically, it is released around one week before the exam. Check the official UPSC homepage and the CMS examination page regularly.
How to apply
Apply online through the official UPSC online portal linked from upsc.gov.in/examinations. The basic steps are:
- Register on the UPSC online portal (or log in if you already have a registration).
- Read the notification PDF carefully.
- Fill out the application form.
- Upload the required documents (photo, signature, MBBS degree / proof, category certificate if applicable).
- Pay the application fee (if applicable — fee details are in the notification).
- Submit and save the registration number.
Do not wait until the last day to apply — the UPSC portal sees heavy traffic close to the deadline.
What to verify yourself (and how)
CrackCMS is a third-party prep platform. We try to keep this post accurate, but the official notification is the only authoritative source. Before your exam:
- Read the official notification PDF on upsc.gov.in — at minimum the eligibility, exam pattern, and timetable sections.
- Check for corrigenda — UPSC occasionally issues corrigenda to its notifications. The corrigenda are also published on the same page.
- Monitor the official UPSC homepage for admit-card and result announcements.
- Cross-check any third-party claim (including ours) against the official notification.
If you find an error in this post, please report it to our editorial team. We will correct it on the next editorial pass.
FAQs
When is the UPSC CMS 2026 exam?
The UPSC Combined Medical Services Examination 2026 is on 02 August 2026, conducted as a Computer-Based Test (CBT) on a single day. Source: upsc.gov.in.
When was the UPSC CMS 2026 notification released?
The notification was released on 11 March 2026, with the application window open from 11 March to 31 March 2026.
How many vacancies are there in UPSC CMS 2026?
1,358 Medical Officer posts across central government services — Central Health Service, Indian Railways, NDMC, MCD, and other central postings. The exact category-wise split is in the notification PDF.
What is the exam pattern?
Two papers, CBT, same day. Paper I (General Medicine & Paediatrics) 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM. Paper II (Surgery, Gynaecology & Obstetrics, PSM) 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM. Written total = 500 marks (250 + 250). Personality Test = 100 marks.
What is the eligibility?
MBBS from an NMC-recognised institution; age not exceeding 32 years as on 01 August 2026 (with category-wise relaxation). See the official notification for the full eligibility text.
When will the admit card be released?
Notified separately on upsc.gov.in. Historically released ~1 week before the exam. Carry your registration number and date of birth to download it.
When will the result be announced?
Notified separately on upsc.gov.in. Date is not pre-published in the original notification.
References
- UPSC. Combined Medical Services Examination 2026 — official notification. upsc.gov.in
- UPSC. Examination Notifications (master index). upsc.gov.in
- UPSC. Previous Year Question Papers (2009–2024). upsc.gov.in
- Press Information Bureau, Government of India. pib.gov.in
About the editorial team
This post is maintained by the CrackCMS editorial team. We verify every date, eligibility rule, and number against the official UPSC notification before publishing. If you spot an error, please report it to us — we will correct it on the next editorial pass.
This article is for informational purposes only. Always cross-check with the official UPSC CMS 2026 notification PDF on upsc.gov.in before making any decision about your application. CrackCMS is not affiliated with UPSC.
References & further reading
Every clinical claim in this article is anchored to a primary source. Click through to verify, and use the same habit in your revision.
Revision history
- 30 July 2026 — Initial publication. Dates, vacancies, pattern, and eligibility verified against the official UPSC CMS 2026 notification page on upsc.gov.in.
Frequently asked questions
When is the UPSC CMS 2026 exam?
The UPSC Combined Medical Services Examination 2026 is scheduled for 02 August 2026 (Sunday), conducted as a Computer-Based Test (CBT) on a single day. This is the date given in the official UPSC CMS 2026 notification on upsc.gov.in.
When was the UPSC CMS 2026 notification released?
The official UPSC CMS 2026 notification was released on 11 March 2026 on upsc.gov.in. The application window also opened on 11 March 2026, and the last date to apply was 31 March 2026.
How many vacancies are there in UPSC CMS 2026?
The official UPSC CMS 2026 notification advertises 1,358 Medical Officer posts across central government services — Central Health Service, Indian Railways, NDMC, MCD, and other central postings.
What is the UPSC CMS 2026 exam pattern?
Two papers on the same day, both Computer-Based Test (CBT). Paper I: General Medicine and Paediatrics, 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM. Paper II: Surgery, Gynaecology & Obstetrics, and Preventive & Social Medicine, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM. Total written marks: 500 (250 + 250). Personality Test: 100 marks.
What is the eligibility for UPSC CMS 2026?
As per the official notification: candidate must have passed the MBBS final year examination from an NMC-recognised institution, and must not exceed 32 years of age as on 01 August 2026 (with category-wise age relaxation as per UPSC rules).
When will the UPSC CMS 2026 admit card be released?
The admit card is typically released on the official UPSC website in the week before the exam. Candidates must download it using their registration number and date of birth and carry it along with a valid photo ID to the exam centre.
Where can I download the official UPSC CMS 2026 notification PDF?
The notification PDF is hosted on the official UPSC examinations page: https://upsc.gov.in/examinations/combined-medical-services-examination. This is the only primary source — do not rely on third-party blogs for the official text.
When will UPSC CMS 2026 results be announced?
UPSC publishes the result on upsc.gov.in. The exact date is not announced in the original notification; candidates are advised to monitor the official UPSC examination page for the published result date.
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