UPSC CMS — eligibility, age limits, exam scheme & pay

The Combined Medical Services Examination (CMS) is held by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). The 2026 notice is Examination Notice No. 9/2026-CMS, dated 11 March 2026. One application covers all the posts; you give your service preferences later. [1]

CMS 2026 tentative vacancies [1]

CMS 2026 calendar [1]

On 2 August 2026, Paper I ran 9:30–11:30 AM and Paper II 2:00–4:00 PM. [2]

The written result came out on 1 September 2026, and Personality Tests for 2,842 candidates began on 12 October 2026. [3]

• You must have passed the written and practical parts of the final M.B.B.S. examination.
• Students who have appeared, or are yet to appear, in final MBBS may apply provisionally; proof of passing must be uploaded in the 15-day window after the written result.
• Internship: a candidate still doing the compulsory rotating internship may sit the exam, but is appointed only after completing it.
• Only a degree certificate, final marksheet or provisional degree certificate issued by the competent authority is accepted as proof. [1]

Physical and medical standards in Appendix III of the CMS Rules apply to every candidate. [1]

CMS 2026 plan of examination [1]

Marking in both papers (objective, multiple choice) [1]

• Both papers are of MBBS standard, set in English only. No calculators.
• UPSC may fix qualifying marks in either or both papers; only those who qualify are called to the interview.
• Tie-break: higher written total, then the older candidate, then the earlier internship completion date. [1]

You must not have reached 32 years on 1 August 2026 — born on or after 2 August 1994. For Medical Officers in the Central Health Service, the upper limit is 35 years on the same date. The notice sets no lower age limit. [1]

Relaxation of the upper age limit [1]

• SC, ST and OBC candidates who are also ex-servicemen or PwBD get the relaxations added together.
• Reservation for SC, ST, OBC, EWS and PwBD is as fixed by the Government.
• PwBD vacancies in 2026: 34 in CHS, 18 in Railways (listed locomotor classes), 2 in MCD, none in NDMC. [1]

• Step 1 — URN: create the one-time Universal Registration Number profile on upsconline.nic.in.
• Step 2 — Common Application Form: upload photograph, live photograph and signature, plus your date-of-birth, category and MBBS documents.
• Step 3 — Exam-specific form: choose the centre, pay the fee and submit. One application and one fee cover every CMS post.
• No addition, deletion or change after submission. [1]

CMS 2026 examination fee [1]

Pay by net banking, Visa / Master / RuPay credit or debit card, or UPI. OBC and EWS candidates get no fee exemption. The fee is not refunded or carried to another exam. [1]

Entry pay and posting for each CMS post (7th CPC Pay Matrix) [1]

Promotion ladder for an NDMC General Duty Medical Officer [1]

• Private practice is prohibited in every CMS post, including lab and consultant practice in CHS.
• Railway ADMOs are under the Contributory Pension System (for entrants from 1 January 2004), get Railway passes, and must pass a Hindi exam during probation.
• Railway ADMOs may be required to serve up to four years in Defence-linked posts (not after ten years of service or, ordinarily, after age 45). [1]

These are basic pay ranges. In-hand pay adds DA, HRA, NPA and other allowances, which change over time and are not stated as amounts in the notice. [1]

1. UPSC — Combined Medical Services Examination 2026, Notice No. 9/2026-CMS (11 Mar 2026) (opens in a new tab) Vacancies, MBBS eligibility, age and relaxations, fee, application, plan of exam, marking, tie-break, pay and posting · Last checked 14 Oct 2026
2. UPSC — CMS Examination 2026 Time Table (opens in a new tab) 2 August 2026 paper timings · Last checked 14 Oct 2026
3. UPSC — CMS Examination 2026 Personality Test notice (25 Sep 2026) (opens in a new tab) Written result date, interview start date, number of candidates · Last checked 14 Oct 2026

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