CMSE Exam Centres List 2026: State-Wise Details and Official Guidelines
- 6 days ago
- 4 min read
For medical graduates looking to serve the nation, the UPSC Combined Medical Services (CMS) Examination is the gateway to a prestigious career in government healthcare. As per the official notification released on March 11, 2026, the Union Public Service Commission has announced a total of 1,358 vacancies for various Medical Officer posts.
One of the most critical steps in the application process is selecting the right venue from the CMSE Exam Centres List. Since UPSC follows a strict "First-Apply-First-Allot" policy, understanding the geographical distribution of these centers is essential to securing a seat in your preferred city.
UPSC CMS 2026: Exam Overview
Before diving into the state-wise details, let's look at the key highlights of the 2026 recruitment cycle.
Event | Official Date |
Notification Release | March 11, 2026 |
Application Start Date | March 11, 2026 |
Last Date to Apply | March 31, 2026 |
Admit Card Release | July 2026 |
UPSC CMS Exam Date | August 2, 2026 |
Total Vacancies | 1,358 |
CMSE Exam Centres List: State-Wise Distribution
The UPSC CMS exam is conducted at various locations across India to ensure accessibility for MBBS graduates from every region. Below is the comprehensive list of exam centers where the Computer Based Test (CBT) will be held on August 2, 2026.
North India Centres
Delhi: New Delhi
Uttar Pradesh: Agra, Aligarh, Bareilly, Gorakhpur, Lucknow, Prayagraj (Allahabad), Varanasi
Haryana & Punjab: Chandigarh, Ludhiana, Gurugram
Rajasthan: Ajmer, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Udaipur
Himachal Pradesh & J&K: Shimla, Dharamshala, Srinagar, Jammu, Leh
West & Central India Centres
Maharashtra: Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Nasik, Thane, Navi Mumbai, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (Aurangabad)
Gujarat: Ahmedabad, Rajkot, Surat
Madhya Pradesh: Bhopal, Gwalior, Indore, Jabalpur
Chhattisgarh: Raipur, Bilaspur
South India Centres
Tamil Nadu: Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai, Tiruchirapalli, Vellore
Karnataka: Bengaluru, Dharwar, Mysuru
Andhra Pradesh & Telangana: Hyderabad, Tirupati, Vijayawada, Vishakhapatnam, Ananthapuru, Hanumakonda (Warangal)
Kerala: Kochi, Kozhikode (Calicut), Thiruvananthapuram
East & North-East India Centres
West Bengal: Kolkata, Siliguri
Bihar & Jharkhand: Patna, Gaya, Ranchi
Odisha: Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Sambalpur
North-East States: Agartala (Tripura), Aizawl (Mizoram), Dispur (Assam), Gangtok (Sikkim), Imphal (Manitpur), Itanagar (Arunachal Pradesh), Jorhat (Assam), Kohima (Nagaland), Shillong (Meghalaya)
Key Rules for CMSE Exam Centres List Allotment
Choosing a center isn't just about picking the nearest city. Candidates must be aware of the following UPSC regulations:
1. First-Apply-First-Allot Policy
Each exam center has a fixed capacity for candidates. Once the ceiling for a particular center is reached, it will be frozen, and you will have to choose from the remaining available options.
Pro Tip: Submit your application within the first week of the notification release to ensure you get your local city.
2. Ceiling-Free Centres
Certain major cities do not have a candidate limit. If you miss out on your local center, these are your safest bets:
Chennai
Dispur
Kolkata
Nagpur
3. Change of Centre Requests
UPSC is very strict regarding the CMSE Exam Centres List. Once you have submitted your final application and chosen a center, no requests for a change of venue will be entertained under any circumstances.
UPSC CMS 2026 Exam Pattern and Important Formulas
To crack the CMS exam, candidates must clear two papers in the CBT format followed by a personality test.
Paper-I: General Medicine and Paediatrics
General Medicine: 96 Questions
Paediatrics: 24 Questions
Total Marks: 250
Paper-II: Surgery, OBG, and PSM
Surgery: 40 Questions
Gynaecology & Obstetrics: 40 Questions
Preventive & Social Medicine: 40 Questions
Total Marks: 250
Important Concepts for Preparation
While we won't list mathematical formulas, medical aspirants should focus on these high-yield "Formula-based" concepts frequently tested in previous papers:
Park’s Formula (Fluid resuscitation in burns)
Pearl Index (Contraceptive efficacy)
Ponderal Index (Foetal growth assessment)
Quetelet Index (Body Mass Index)
Fried’s Formula (Paediatric drug dosage calculation)
Conclusion
Selecting the right venue from the CMSE Exam Centres List is the foundational step of your UPSC journey. With 1,358 vacancies up for grabs in 2026, the competition will be intense. Ensure you have your documents ready, choose your center wisely, and begin your preparation focusing on high-weightage topics like General Medicine and PSM.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. How can I check the official CMSE Exam Centres List for 2026?
The official list is available in the UPSC CMS 2026 Notification PDF on the UPSC website. You can also refer to the state-wise table provided in this blog for a quick overview.
Q2. Is there a negative marking in the UPSC CMS CBT?
Yes, there is a negative marking of 1/3rd (0.33) for every incorrect answer in both Paper-I and Paper-II.
Q3. When should I apply to get my preferred choice from the CMSE Exam Centres List?
You should apply as soon as the registration window opens. For 2026, the window is open from March 11 to March 31. Applying early helps you bypass the "first-apply-first-allot" capacity limits.
Q4. Can I choose a different center for the Personality Test?
No. The written exam is conducted at the centers mentioned above, but the Personality Test (Interview) is typically conducted at the UPSC Headquarters (Dholpur House) in New Delhi.
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