UPSC Medical Science Optional Syllabus 2026

 UPSC Medical Science Optional Syllabus for Paper I

1. Human Anatomy

• Applied anatomy, including blood and nerve supply of upper and lower limbs, and joints of the shoulder, hip and knee.

• Gross anatomy, blood supply and lymphatic drainage of the tongue, thyroid, mammary gland, stomach, liver, prostate, gonads and uterus.

• Applied anatomy of the diaphragm, perineum and inguinal region.

• Clinical anatomy of the kidney, urinary bladder, uterine tubes, and vas deferens.

• Embryology: Placenta and placental barrier. Development of the heart, gut, and kidney. uterus, ovary, testis and their common congenital abnormalities

• .Central and Peripheral Autonomic Nervous System: Gross and clinical anatomy of ventricles of the brain, circulation of cerebrospinal fluid; Neural pathways and lesions of cutaneous sensations, hearing and vision; Cranial nerves distribution and clinical significance; Components of the autonomic nervous system.

2. Human Physiology

• Conduction and transmission of impulse, mechanism of contraction, neuromuscular transmission, reflexes, 3. Biochemistry control of equilibrium, posture and muscle tone, descending pathways, functions of the 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 the pancreas and pituitary gland.

• Physiology of the Reproductive System: Pregnancy, menstrual cycle, lactation.

• Blood: Development, regulation and fate of blood cells. Cardio-vascular, cardiac output, blood pressure, and regulation of cardiovascular functions

3. Biochemistry

• Organ function tests—liver, kidney, thyroid. Protein synthesis, vitamins, and minerals.

• Restriction fragment length

• polymorphism (RFLP),

• Polymerase chain reaction (PCR), Radio-immunoassays (RIA).

4. Pathology

• 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, leukaemia, Etiology, pathogenesis and histopathology of—cirrhosis liver, glomerulonephritis, tuberculosis, acute osteomyelitis.

5. Microbiology

• Humoral and cell-mediated immunity.

• Diseases caused by and laboratory diagnosis of —

• Meningococcus, Saimonella

• Shigella, Herpes, Dengue, Polio

• HIV/AIDS, Malaria, E. Histolytica, Giardia

• Candida, Cryptococcus, Aspergillus.

6. Pharmacology

• Mechanism of action and side effects of the following drugs :

• Antipyretics and analgesics, Antibiotics,

• Antimalaria, Antikala-azar, Antidiabetics,

• Antihypertensives, Antidiuretics, General and cardiac vasodilators, Antivirals, Antiparasitic, Antifungal, Immunosuppressants,

• Anticancer.

7. Forensic Medicine and Toxicology

• Forensic examination of injuries and wounds; Examination of blood and seminal stains; Poisoning, sedative overdose, hanging, drowning, burns, DNA and fingerprint study.

UPSC Medical Science Optional Syllabus Paper II

1. General Medicine

• Aetiology, clinical features, diagnosis and principles of management (including prevention) of—Typhoid, Rabies, AIDS, Dengue, Kala-azar, and Japanese Encephalitis.

• Aetiology, 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 the liver.

• Glomerulonephritis and pyelonephritis, renal failure, nephrotic syndrome, renovascular hypertension, complications of diabetes mellitus, coagulation disorders, leukaemia, Hypo and hyperthyroid, meningitis and encephalitis.

• Imaging in medical problems, such as ultrasound, echocardiogram, CT scan, and MRI.

• Anxiety, depressive psychosis, schizophrenia and ECT.

2. Paediatrics

• Immunisation, Baby-friendly hospital, congenital cyanotic heart disease, respiratory distress syndrome, broncho—types of pneumonia, kernicterus. IMNCI classification and management, PEM grading and management. ARI and Diarrhoea among under-five children and their management.

3. Dermatology

• Psoriasis, Allergic dermatitis, scabies, eczema, vitiligo, Stevens-Johnson’s syndrome, Lichen Planus

4. General Surgery

• Clinical features, causes, diagnosis and principles of management of cleft palate, harelip.

• Laryngeal tumour, oral and oesophageal tumours.

• Peripheral arterial diseases, varicose veins, and coarctation of the aorta.

• Tumours of Thyroid, Adrenal, and Glands.

• Abscess cancer, fibroadenoma and adenosis of the breast.

• Bleeding peptic ulcer, tuberculosis of the bowel, ulcerative colitis, and cancer of the stomach.

• Renal mass, cancer prostate.

• Haemothorax, stones of the Gallbladder, kidney, ureter, and Urinary Bladder.

• Management of surgical conditions of Rectum, Anus and Anal canal, gallbladder, and Bile ducts.

• Splenomegaly, cholecystitis, portal hypertension, liver abscess, peritonitis, carcinoma of the head of the pancreas.

• Fractures of the spine, Colles’ fracture and bone tumours. Endoscopy.

• Laparoscopic Surgery.

5. Obstetrics and Gynaecology, including Family Planning

• Diagnosis of pregnancy.

• Labour management, complications of the 3rd stage, Antepartum and postpartum haemorrhage, resuscitation of the newborn, Management of abnormal life and difficult labour.  Management of small-for-dates or premature newborns.

• Diagnosis and management of anaemia. Preeclampsia and Toxaemia of Pregnancy, Management of Postmenopausal 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 the uterus.

6. Community Medicine (Preventive and Social Medicine)

• 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 the healthcare 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.

Subject

Recommended Books

Anatomy

BD Chaurasia's Human Anatomy, Grey's Anatomy for Students

Physiology

Ganong's Review of Medical Physiology, Guyton and Hall Textbook of Medical Physiology

Biochemistry

Harper's Illustrated Biochemistry, Lippincott's Illustrated Reviews: Biochemistry

Pathology

Robbins and Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease, Goljan Rapid Review Pathology

Pharmacology

Katzung Basic and Clinical Pharmacology, Goodman and Gilman's The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics

Microbiology

Jawetz, Melnick & Adelberg's Medical Microbiology, Murray's Medical Microbiology

Forensic Medicine

Textbook of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology by V.V. Pillay, Modi's Medical Jurisprudence and Toxicology

Subject

Recommended Books

Clinical Medicine

Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, Davidson's Principles and Practice of Medicine

Surgery

Bailey & Love's Short Practice of Surgery, Schwartz's Principles of Surgery

Obstetrics and Gynaecology

DC Dutta's Textbook of Obstetrics, Shaw's Textbook of Gynaecology

Pediatrics

Nelson Textbook of Paediatrics, Ghai Essential Paediatrics

Preventive and Social Medicine

Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine, Public Health and Community Medicine by Rajvir Bhalwar

Psychiatry

Kaplan and Sadock's Comprehensive Textbook of Psychiatry, Essentials of Psychiatry by Neel Burton

Radiology

Fundamentals of Diagnostic Radiology by William E. Brant and Clyde A. Helms, Radiology Review Manual by Wolfgang Dahnert