The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has officially released the Combined Medical Services (CMS) Recruitment Notification 2026 on 11 March 2026 through its official website upsc.gov.in. Through this recruitment drive, a total of 1358 vacancies have been announced for different Medical Officer positions in various government departments.
Candidates who have successfully completed the written and practical parts of the final MBBS examination are eligible to apply for these posts. The upper age limit for General category candidates is 32 years, while candidates applying for Central Health Service (CHS) Medical Officer posts can apply up to 35 years of age as per the recruitment rules.
The vacancies available through this recruitment include Assistant Divisional Medical Officer in Railways, Medical Officer in Central Health Services (CHS), General Duty Medical Officer (GDMO) in NDMC, and GDMO Grade-II in MCD.
The online application process for UPSC CMS Recruitment 2026 has started from 11 March 2026 and interested candidates can submit their applications until 31 March 2026 at 06:00 PM. Applicants are advised to carefully read the official notification before applying. Candidates can also download the official notification PDF and submit their applications through the official UPSC website.
UPSC Recruitment 2026 Notification Important Details
| Name of the Company | Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) |
| Total Posts | 1358 |
| Name of the Positions | Medical Officer Grade (General Duty – Central Health Service) | Assistant Divisional Medical Officer (Railways) |General Duty Medical Officer (NDMC) | General Duty Medical Officer Grade – II (MCD) |
| Advertisement No. | Examination Notice No. 9/2026-CMS |
| Pay Scale | 56,100 – 1,77,500 |
| How to Apply | Online |
| Website | https://upsc.gov.in | https://upsconline.nic.in |
UPSC Recruitment 2026 Eligibility Criteria
Qualification
Candidates who wish to apply for UPSC Combined Medical Services (CMS) Recruitment 2026 must have completed the written and practical parts of the final MBBS examination from a recognized university or institution. Only candidates with a valid MBBS qualification are eligible to apply for the medical officer posts under this recruitment.
Provisional Eligibility
Applicants who have already appeared for the final MBBS examination or are waiting for their results are also allowed to apply for the UPSC CMS examination. However, their candidature will be considered provisional. These candidates must submit valid proof of passing the MBBS examination within the time limit specified by the Commission after the written exam results are announced.
Internship Requirement
Candidates who have not yet completed their compulsory rotating medical internship are still eligible to appear for the examination. However, they will be considered for appointment only after successfully completing the internship as required by the medical education rules.
Physical and Medical Fitness
All candidates applying for the UPSC CMS 2026 examination must meet the required physical and medical standards prescribed by the Commission. The detailed medical guidelines and standards are mentioned in the official rules of the examination.
Marital Status Condition
According to the recruitment rules, a candidate who has married a person who already has a living spouse, or a candidate who has entered into another marriage while having a living spouse, will not be eligible for appointment. However, exemptions may be granted in certain cases according to personal laws and with approval from the Central Government.
UPSC Recruitment 2026 Notification Age Limit
Candidates applying for the UPSC Combined Medical Services (CMS) Recruitment 2026 must meet the age criteria prescribed by the Union Public Service Commission. The age limit is calculated as per the official recruitment rules.
For General category candidates, the maximum age limit is 32 years. This means the applicant should have been born on or after 2 August 1994 to be eligible for the examination.
For candidates applying to the Medical Officer Grade – General Duty in Central Health Services (CHS), the upper age limit is 35 years as on 01 August 2026.
Age Relaxation
The Commission provides age relaxation for candidates belonging to reserved categories as per government regulations.
- SC / ST Candidates: Age relaxation up to 5 years
- OBC Candidates: Age relaxation up to 3 years
- Defence Service Personnel disabled during operations: Up to 3 years relaxation
- Ex-Servicemen: Candidates who have completed at least 5 years of military service as on 01 August 2026 are eligible for 5 years relaxation
- ECOs / SSCOs: Candidates with an initial 5-year military assignment extended beyond 5 years can get up to 5 years relaxation, subject to a certificate from the Ministry of Defence
- Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD): Eligible for 10 years age relaxation
Candidates who belong to SC, ST, or OBC categories and are also eligible under Ex-Servicemen or PwBD categories may receive combined age relaxation benefits according to the applicable rules.
Important Note
The date of birth mentioned in the Matriculation or Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC) will be considered as the official proof of age. No other documents will be accepted for verifying the candidate’s age.
UPSC Recruitment 2026 Application Fee
Candidates who are applying for the UPSC Combined Medical Services
(CMS) Recruitment 2026 must pay the required application fee while submitting the online application form. The fee amount varies depending on the category of the candidate. Below are the complete details regarding the application fee and payment methods.
- General / OBC / EWS Candidates: Rs. 200 application fee must be paid while submitting the online application.
- Fee Exemption: Female candidates, SC candidates, ST candidates, and Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) are exempted from paying the application fee.
- Important Note: Candidates belonging to OBC and EWS categories are not eligible for fee exemption and must pay the full fee of Rs.200.
- Mode of payment: The fee can be paid through Net Banking, Debit Card, Credit Card, or UPI using Visa, MasterCard, or RuPay supported payment methods.
- Non-Refundable Fee: Once the application fee is paid, it will not be refunded under any circumstances and cannot be adjusted for any other examination.
- Incomplete Applications: Applications submitted without the required fee payment (except for exempted categories) will be rejected by the Commission.
UPSC Selection Process
The selection process for UPSC Combined Medical Services (CMS) recruitment 2026 consists of two stages. Candidates must first qualify the written examination and then attend the personality test or interview conducted by the Commission.
Total Marks: 600 Marks
- Written examination: 500 Marks
- Personality Test / Interview: 100 Marks
Written Examination (Part-I) – 500 Marks
- Paper-I: General Medicine and Paediatrics
- Total Marks: 250
- Total Questions: 120 (96 from General Medicine + 24 from Paediatrics)
- Duration: 2 Hours
- Paper-II: Surgery, Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Preventive and Social Medicine
- Total Marks: 250
- Total Questions: 120 (40 questions from each section)
- Duration: 2 Hours
- Both papers will be conducted in Objective Type (Multiple Choice Questions) format.
- The question papers will be available only in English language.
Negative Marking
- For every incorrect answer, 1/3rd of the marks (0.33) assigned to that question will be deducted.
- No negative marking will be applied for questions that are left unanswered.
Personality Test / Interview (Part-II) – 100 Marks
- Candidates who qualify in the written examination will be called for the Personality Test or Interview.
- During the interview, the Commission evaluates the candidate’s general knowledge, academic understanding, intellectual curiosity, decision-making ability, integrity, initiative, and leadership qualities.
How to Apply for UPSC
Candidates who wish to apply for UPSC Combined Medical Services (CMS) Recruitment 2026 must submit their application through the official online portal. The application process is completely online, and applicants should carefully follow the instructions given below before submitting the form.
- Candidates must apply online through the official website: https://upsconline.nic.in
- Applicants need to complete the online registration process, which includes creating an account and generating a Universal Registration Number (URN). This registration is usually done once and can be used for future UPSC applications.
- After registration, candidates must fill the Common Application Form (CAF) and then proceed to the examination-specific application module, where they can select the exam center and complete the fee payment.
Documents to upload
- A scanned passport-size photograph in JPG format (20 KB to 200 KB).
- A scanned signature in JPG format (20 KB to 100 KB).
- Candidates may also need to capture a live photograph during the application process.
- The signature should be written three times on plain white paper using black ink and then scanned for uploading.
Important Instructions
- Candidates should keep a valid photo identity proof such as Aadhaar card, Voter ID, PAN Card, Passport, Driving Licence, or any government-issued photo ID for Future Verification.
- Applicants belonging to General, OBC, and EWS categories must pay an application fee of Rs. 200 through online payment methods like Net Banking, Debit Card, Credit Card, or UPI.
- The application period is from 11 March 2026 to 31 March 2026 (6:00 PM). Candidates are advised to submit their application early to get their preferred examination center since allotment is generally done on a first-come, first-served basis.
- Candidates who are already working in government service should inform their Head of office or Department and mention this in the application form.
- Applicants must avoid submitting multiple applications, as duplicate applications from the same candidate may lead to rejection.
- There is no need to send a printed copy of the application form to the Commission.
After Written Exam
Candidates who qualify in the written examination and are shortlisted for the Personality Test / Interview must log in to the UPSC portal within 15 days after the result declaration to update their details and upload the required proof of their educational qualification.
UPSC Recruitment 2026 Important Dates
Below are the key dates related to the UPSC Combined Medical Services (CMS) Recruitment 2026 examination process. Candidates should keep track of these dates to avoid missing any important event.
| Event | Date & Time |
| Notification Release Date | 11 March 2026 |
| Online Application Start Date | 11 March 2026 |
| Last Date to Submit online Application | 31 March 2026 (up to 06:00 PM) |
| Written Examination Date | 02 August 2026 |
| Helpline Support Period | 11 March 2026 to 31 March 2026 (10:00 AM – 5:30 PM on working days) |
| e-Admit Card Release | Last working day of the week before the examination |
| Objection / Representation Window for Question Paper & Provisional Answer Key | From 3rd day to 7th day (till 06:00 PM) after the examination date |
Important Links
PDF for Notification: https://upsc.gov.in/sites/default/files/Notification-CMSE-2026-English-110326.pdf
Apply Online: https://upsconline.nic.in/
UPSC CMS Recruitment 2026 – FAQs
- What is the last date to apply for UPSC CMS Recruitment 2026?
The last date to submit the online application is 31 March 2026 (06:00 PM).
- How many vacancies are announced inn UPSC CMS 2026?
A total of 1358 Medical Officer Vacancies have been announced.
- What is the age limit for UPSC CMS Recruitment 2026?
The maximum age limit is 32 years for General candidates and 35 years for CHS Medical Officer posts.
