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| # | Chapter | Weight | Study note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GI surgery | high | Upper GI bleed, peptic ulcer, colorectal cancer. 16+ Qs per CMS paper. |
| 2 | Trauma & ATLS | high | ATLS protocol, abdominal trauma, vascular injury. 12+ Qs. |
| 3 | Hernia | high | Inguinal anatomy, femoral hernia, ventral hernia repairs. 6-8 Qs. |
| 4 | Surgical oncology | high | Breast, thyroid, colorectal, gastric cancer staging. 10+ Qs. |
| 5 | Acute abdomen | high | Perforation, obstruction, appendicitis, pancreatitis. 10+ Qs. |
| 6 | Burns | medium | Parkland formula, resuscitation, escharotomy. 4-5 Qs. |
| 7 | Urology | medium | BPH, renal stones, prostate cancer. 4 Qs. |
| 8 | Vascular surgery | low | DVT, aortic aneurysm, varicose veins. 2-3 Qs. |
Week 1
GI surgery + trauma
pp. 1-260, 360-490
Week 2
Hernia + oncology
pp. 960-1080, 800-960
Week 3
Acute abdomen + burns
pp. 260-360, 490-560
Week 4
Urology + vascular + revision
pp. 1290-1450
SRB's Manual of Surgery (6th ed.)
SRB's is the Indian exam-oriented surgery text — operations list, instruments, suture materials, and viva questions. Use alongside Bailey.
The 27th or 28th edition works. The book changes slowly; older editions are still exam-relevant.
For ~85% of CMS Surgery questions, Bailey alone is sufficient. Add SRB's Manual for instruments, operative steps and Indian-context viva topics.
Reviewed by Dr. Ananya Reddy, MBBS, AIIMS New Delhi (2018), UPSC CMS AIR-1 (2024). Last reviewed 21 July 2026.