Here is the official UPSC Medical Science Optional syllabus for Paper I and Paper II, arranged paper by paper and unit by unit. Under each unit we give the official text first, then break it into numbered topics, so you can track your preparation and match every previous year question to its topic.
Source. UPSC Civil Services Examination 2026 notification (Examination Notice No. 05/2026-CSE, dated 04.02.2026, pp. 130–133), upsc.gov.in. The Medical Science syllabus has been unchanged in recent years.
Scheme. Two papers of 250 marks each (total 500), 3 hours each. Each paper has two sections (A and B) of four questions each; Questions 1 and 5 are compulsory, and three more are attempted with at least one from each section. The syllabus itself is not divided into sections. Paper I has seven units (Human Anatomy; Human Physiology; Biochemistry; Pathology; Microbiology; Pharmacology; Forensic Medicine and Toxicology); Paper II has six units (General Medicine; Paediatrics; Dermatology; General Surgery; Obstetrics and Gynaecology including Family Planning; Community Medicine).
Syllabus at a glance
| Paper | Unit | Topics |
|---|---|---|
| Paper I | 1. Human Anatomy | 6 |
| Paper I | 2. Human Physiology | 6 |
| Paper I | 3. Biochemistry | 4 |
| Paper I | 4. Pathology | 5 |
| Paper I | 5. Microbiology | 5 |
| Paper I | 6. Pharmacology | 5 |
| Paper I | 7. Forensic Medicine and Toxicology | 4 |
| Paper II | 1. General Medicine | 8 |
| Paper II | 2. Paediatrics | 4 |
| Paper II | 3. Dermatology | 2 |
| Paper II | 4. General Surgery | 9 |
| Paper II | 5. Obstetrics and Gynaecology including Family Planning | 5 |
| Paper II | 6. Community Medicine (Preventive and Social Medicine) | 7 |
Paper I
1. Human Anatomy
Official syllabus text
Applied anatomy including blood and nerve supply of upper and lower limbs and joints of shoulder, hip and knee.
Gross anatomy, blood supply and lymphatic drainage of tongue, thyroid, mammary gland, stomach, liver, prostate, gonads and uterus.
Applied anatomy of diaphragm, perineum and inguinal region.
Clinical anatomy of kidney, urinary bladder, uterine tubes, vas deferens.
Embryology: Placenta and placental barrier. Development of heart, gut, kidney, uterus, ovary, testis and their common congenital abnormalities.
Central and Peripheral Autonomic Nervous System: Gross and clinical anatomy of ventricles of brain, circulation of cerebrospinal fluid; Neural pathways and lesions of cutaneous sensations, hearing and vision; Cranial nerves distribution and clinical significance; Components of autonomic nervous system.
1.1 Limbs and joints
- Blood and nerve supply of upper and lower limbs
- Shoulder, hip and knee joints
1.2 Gross anatomy of organs
- Tongue, thyroid, mammary gland, stomach, liver, prostate, gonads and uterus: blood supply and lymphatic drainage
1.3 Diaphragm, perineum and inguinal region
1.4 Kidney, bladder, uterine tubes and vas deferens
1.5 Embryology
- Placenta and placental barrier
- Development of heart, gut, kidney, uterus, ovary, testis
- Congenital abnormalities
1.6 Neuroanatomy
- Ventricles of brain and CSF
- Pathways and lesions of cutaneous sensations, hearing and vision
- Cranial nerves
- Autonomic nervous system
2. Human Physiology
Official syllabus text
Conduction and transmission of impulse, mechanism of contraction, neuromuscular transmission, reflexes, control of equilibrium, posture and muscle tone, descending pathways, functions of cerebellum, basal ganglia, Physiology of sleep and consciousness.
Endocrine System: Mechanism of action of hormones; formation, secretion, transport, metabolism, function and regulation of secretion of pancreas and pituitary gland.
Physiology of Reproductive System: Pregnancy, menstrual cycle, lactation, pregnancy.
Blood: Development, regulation and fate of blood cells.
Cardio-vascular: cardiac output, blood pressure, regulation of cardiovascular functions.
2.1 Nerve and muscle physiology
- Conduction and transmission of impulse
- Muscle contraction
- Neuromuscular transmission
2.2 Neurophysiology
- Reflexes
- Equilibrium, posture and muscle tone
- Descending pathways
- Cerebellum and basal ganglia
- Sleep and consciousness
2.3 Endocrine physiology
- Mechanism of hormone action
- Pancreas
- Pituitary gland
2.4 Reproductive physiology
- Menstrual cycle
- Pregnancy
- Lactation
2.5 Blood
- Development, regulation and fate of blood cells
2.6 Cardiovascular physiology
- Cardiac output
- Blood pressure
- Regulation of cardiovascular functions
3. Biochemistry
Official syllabus text
Organ function tests—liver, kidney, thyroid. Protein synthesis.
Vitamins and minerals.
Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP).
Polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
Radio-immunoassays (RIA).
3.1 Organ function tests
- Liver
- Kidney
- Thyroid
3.2 Protein synthesis
3.3 Vitamins and minerals
3.4 Molecular techniques
- RFLP
- PCR
- RIA
4. Pathology
Official syllabus text
Inflammation and repair, disturbances of growth and cancer, Pathogenesis and histopathology of rheumatic and ischaemic heart disease and diabetes mellitus. Differentiation between benign, malignant, primary and metastatic malignancies, Pathogenesis and histopathology of bronchogenic carcinoma, carcinoma breast, oral cancer, cancer cervix, leukemia, Etiology, pathogenesis and histopathology of—cirrhosis liver, glomerulonephritis, tuberculosis, acute osteomyelitis.
4.1 Inflammation and repair
4.2 Disturbances of growth and neoplasia
- Benign and malignant
- Primary and metastatic
4.3 Heart disease and diabetes
- Rheumatic heart disease
- Ischaemic heart disease
- Diabetes mellitus
4.4 Specific cancers
- Bronchogenic carcinoma
- Carcinoma breast
- Oral cancer
- Cancer cervix
- Leukemia
4.5 Other diseases
- Cirrhosis liver
- Glomerulonephritis
- Tuberculosis
- Acute osteomyelitis
5. Microbiology
Official syllabus text
Humoral and cell mediated immunity.
Diseases caused by and laboratory diagnosis of—Meningococcus, Salmonella; Shigella, Herpes, Dengue, Polio; HIV/AIDS, Malaria, E. histolytica, Giardia; Candida, Cryptococcus, Aspergillus.
5.1 Immunity
- Humoral immunity
- Cell mediated immunity
5.2 Bacterial infections
- Meningococcus
- Salmonella
- Shigella
5.3 Viral infections
- Herpes
- Dengue
- Polio
- HIV/AIDS
5.4 Parasitic infections
- Malaria
- E. histolytica
- Giardia
5.5 Fungal infections
- Candida
- Cryptococcus
- Aspergillus
6. Pharmacology
Official syllabus text
Mechanism of action and side effects of the following drugs: Antipyretics and analgesics, Antibiotics; Antimalaria, Antikala-azar, Antidiabetics; Antihypertensive, Antidiuretics, General and cardiac vasodilators, Antiviral, Antiparasitic, Antifungal, Immunosuppressants; Anticancer.
6.1 Analgesics and antimicrobials
- Antipyretics and analgesics
- Antibiotics
- Antiviral, antiparasitic and antifungal drugs
6.2 Antimalarial and anti-kala-azar drugs
6.3 Antidiabetic drugs
6.4 Cardiovascular and renal drugs
- Antihypertensives
- Diuretics
- General and cardiac vasodilators
6.5 Immunosuppressants and anticancer drugs
7. Forensic Medicine and Toxicology
Official syllabus text
Forensic examination of injuries and wounds; Examination of blood and seminal stains; Poisoning, sedative overdose, hanging, drowning, burns, DNA and finger print study.
7.1 Injuries and wounds
7.2 Blood and seminal stains; DNA and fingerprints
7.3 Poisoning
- Poisoning
- Sedative overdose
7.4 Asphyxial deaths and burns
- Hanging
- Drowning
- Burns
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1. General Medicine
Official syllabus text
Etiology, clinical features, diagnosis and principles of management (including prevention) of—Typhoid, Rabies, AIDS, Dengue, Kala-azar, Japanese Encephalitis.
Etiology, clinical features, diagnosis and principles of management of: Ischaemic heart disease, pulmonary embolism. Bronchial asthma. Pleural effusion, tuberculosis, Malabsorption syndromes; acid peptic diseases, Viral hepatitis and cirrhosis of liver. Glomerulonephritis and pyelonephritis, renal failure, nephrotic syndrome, renovascular hypertension, complications of diabetes mellitus, coagulation disorders, leukaemia, Hypo and hyper thyroidism, meningitis and encephalitis.
Imaging in medical problems, ultrasound, echocardiogram, CT scan, MRI.
Anxiety and Depressive Psychosis and schizophrenia and ECT.
1.1 Infectious diseases
- Typhoid
- Rabies
- AIDS
- Dengue
- Kala-azar
- Japanese encephalitis
1.2 Cardiovascular and respiratory diseases
- Ischaemic heart disease
- Pulmonary embolism
- Bronchial asthma
- Pleural effusion
- Tuberculosis
1.3 Gastrointestinal and liver diseases
- Malabsorption syndromes
- Acid peptic disease
- Viral hepatitis
- Cirrhosis of liver
1.4 Renal diseases
- Glomerulonephritis and pyelonephritis
- Renal failure
- Nephrotic syndrome
- Renovascular hypertension
1.5 Endocrine and haematological diseases
- Complications of diabetes mellitus
- Hypo- and hyperthyroidism
- Coagulation disorders
- Leukaemia
1.6 Meningitis and encephalitis
1.7 Imaging
- Ultrasound
- Echocardiogram
- CT scan
- MRI
1.8 Psychiatry
- Anxiety
- Depressive psychosis
- Schizophrenia
- ECT
2. Paediatrics
Official syllabus text
Immunization, Baby friendly hospital, congenital cyanotic heart disease, respiratory distress syndrome, bronchopneumonias, kernicterus. IMNCI classification and management, PEM grading and management. ARI and Diarrhea of under five and their management.
2.1 Immunization and Baby Friendly Hospital
2.2 Neonatal and cardiac conditions
- Congenital cyanotic heart disease
- Respiratory distress syndrome
- Kernicterus
2.3 IMNCI, ARI and diarrhoea
- IMNCI classification and management
- Bronchopneumonias and ARI
- Diarrhoea of under-fives
2.4 Protein-energy malnutrition
- PEM grading and management
3. Dermatology
Official syllabus text
Psoriasis, Allergic dermatitis, scabies, eczema, vitiligo, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, Lichen Planus.
3.1 Psoriasis, eczema and dermatitis
- Psoriasis
- Allergic dermatitis
- Eczema
- Lichen planus
3.2 Scabies, vitiligo and Stevens-Johnson syndrome
4. General Surgery
Official syllabus text
Clinical features, causes, diagnosis and principles of management of cleft palate, harelip.
Laryngeal tumour, oral and esophageal tumours.
Peripheral arterial diseases, varicose veins, coarctation of aorta.
Tumours of Thyroid, Adrenal, Glands.
Abscess, cancer, fibroadenoma and adenosis of breast.
Bleeding peptic ulcer, tuberculosis of bowel, ulcerative colitis, cancer stomach.
Renal mass, cancer prostate.
Haemothorax, stones of Gall bladder, Kidney, Ureter and Urinary Bladder.
Management of surgical conditions of Rectum, Anus and Anal canal, Gall bladder and Bile ducts.
Splenomegaly, cholecystitis, portal hypertension, liver abscess, peritonitis, carcinoma head of pancreas.
Fractures of spine, Colles’ fracture and bone tumors.
Endoscopy.
Laparoscopic Surgery.
4.1 Head and neck
- Cleft palate and harelip
- Laryngeal tumours
- Oral tumours
- Thyroid and adrenal tumours
4.2 Vascular surgery
- Peripheral arterial diseases
- Varicose veins
- Coarctation of aorta
4.3 Breast
- Abscess
- Cancer
- Fibroadenoma and adenosis
4.4 Oesophagus, stomach and bowel
- Oesophageal tumours
- Bleeding peptic ulcer
- Cancer stomach
- Tuberculosis of bowel
- Ulcerative colitis
- Rectum and anal canal
4.5 Hepatobiliary, pancreas and spleen
- Gall bladder and bile ducts
- Cholecystitis and gallstones
- Portal hypertension
- Liver abscess
- Carcinoma head of pancreas
- Splenomegaly
- Peritonitis
4.6 Urology
- Renal mass
- Cancer prostate
- Urinary stones
4.7 Chest
- Haemothorax
4.8 Orthopaedics
- Fractures of spine
- Colles’ fracture
- Bone tumours
4.9 Endoscopy and laparoscopic surgery
5. Obstetrics and Gynaecology including Family Planning
Official syllabus text
Diagnosis of pregnancy.
Labour management, complications of 3rd stage, Antepartum and postpartum hemorrhage, resuscitation of the newborn, Management of abnormal lie and difficult labour. Management of small for date or premature newborn.
Diagnosis and management of anemia. Preeclampsia and Toxaemias of pregnancy, Management of Post-menopausal Syndrome.
Intra-uterine devices, pills, tubectomy and vasectomy. Medical termination of pregnancy including legal aspects.
Cancer cervix.
Leucorrhoea, pelvic pain; infertility, dysfunctional uterine bleeding (DUB), amenorrhoea, Fibroid and prolapse of uterus.
5.1 Pregnancy and antenatal care
- Diagnosis of pregnancy
- Anaemia
- Pre-eclampsia and toxaemias
5.2 Labour and its complications
- Labour management
- Complications of third stage
- Antepartum and postpartum haemorrhage
- Abnormal lie and difficult labour
5.3 Newborn care
- Resuscitation of the newborn
- Small-for-date and premature newborn
5.4 Family planning and MTP
- Intrauterine devices
- Pills
- Tubectomy and vasectomy
- Medical termination of pregnancy
5.5 Gynaecology
- Cancer cervix
- Leucorrhoea
- Pelvic pain
- Infertility
- DUB
- Amenorrhoea
- Fibroid
- Prolapse
- Post-menopausal syndrome
6. Community Medicine (Preventive and Social Medicine)
Official syllabus text
Principles, methods, approach and measurements of Epidemiology.
Nutrition, nutritional diseases/disorders and Nutrition Programmes.
Health information Collection, Analysis and Presentation.
Objectives, components and critical analysis of National programmes for control/eradication of: Malaria, Kala-azar, Filaria and Tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, STDs and Dengue.
Critical appraisal of Health care delivery system.
Health management and administration; Techniques, Tools, Programme Implementation and Evaluation.
Objectives, Components, Goals and Status of Reproductive and Child Health, National Rural Health Mission and Millennium Development Goals.
Management of hospital and industrial waste.
6.1 Epidemiology
- Principles, methods, approach and measurements
6.2 Nutrition
- Nutritional diseases and disorders
- Nutrition programmes
6.3 Health information
- Collection, analysis and presentation
6.4 National disease control programmes
- Malaria
- Kala-azar
- Filaria
- Tuberculosis
- HIV/AIDS and STDs
- Dengue
6.5 Health care delivery and management
- Health care delivery system
- Health management and administration
6.6 RCH, NRHM and MDGs
6.7 Hospital and industrial waste
Total: 70 numbered topics across 10 units.
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