UPSC Medical Science Syllabus

The UPSC optional subjects list consists of 48 subjects including Medical Science. The Medical Science syllabus for UPSC focuses on the candidates’ understanding of the basic concepts and application of knowledge to problems faced by patients. The topics included in this subject are related to basic medical knowledge, general medicine and community medicine.

Candidates should choose Medical Science as an optional subject in UPSC when they have very high competence and a strong interest in the subject so that they can easily prepare for the exam. Candidates’ who have studied Medical Science in their undergraduate degree or who work as doctors, biomedical engineers, nurses or pharmacists can take up this optional. In this article, we provide you the detailed UPSC syllabus for Medical Science optional.

Medical Science Optional Subject has 2 papers (paper I and paper II) in UPSC Mains. Each paper is of 250 marks with a total of 500 marks.

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Find below the IAS Medical Science syllabus:

Medical Science Optional Paper I syllabus:

1. Human Anatomy:
   

   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.

2. Human Physiology:
   

   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 pregnancyBlood: Development, regulation and fate of blood cells. Cardio-vascular cardiac output, blood pressure, 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, leukemia, Etiology, pathogenesis and histopathology of-cirrhosis liver, glomerulonephritis, tuberculosis, acute osteomyelitis.

5. Microbiology:

   1. Humoral and cell mediated immunity
   2. 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,
   • Antimalarial, Anti Kala-azar, Antidiabetics,
   • Antihypertensive, Antidiuretics, General and cardiac vasodilators, Antiviral,
     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.

Medical Science Optional Paper II syllabus:

1. General Medicine:
   

   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 hyperthyroidism, meningitis and encephalitis
   • Imaging in medical problems, ultrasound, echocardiogram, CT scan,
   • MRI. Anxiety and Depressive Psychosis and schizophrenia and ECT

2. Paediatrics:
   

   Immunization, Baby friendly hospital, congenital cyanotic heart disease, respiratory distress syndrome, bronchial pneumonia, kernicterus. IMCI classification and management, PEM grading and management. ARI and Diarrhea of under five and their management

3. Dermatology:
   

   Psoriasis, Allergic dermatitis, scabies, eczema, vitiligo, Steven Johnsons syndrome, Lichen Planus.

4. General Surgery:
   

   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 prostatie
   Haemothorax, stones of 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 head of pancreas.Fractures of spine, Colles’ fracture and bone tumors.
   Endoscopy
   Laparoscopic Surgery.

5. Obstetrics and Gynaecology including Family:
   

   Planning Diagnosis of pregnancy
   Labour management, complications of 3rd stage, Antepartum and postpartum hemorrhage, resuscitation of the newborn, Management of abnormal life and difficult labour. Management of small for date or premature newbornDiagnosis and management of anemia. Preeclampsia and Toxemia of pregnancy, Management of Postmenopausal Syndrome.Intrauterine devices, pills, tubectomy and vasectomy. Medical termination of pregnancy including legal aspects.Cancer cervixLeucorrhoea, pelvic pain; infertility, dysfunctional uterine bleeding (DUB) amenorrhoea, Fibroid and prolapse of uterus.

6. Community Medicine (Preventive and Social Medicine):
   

   Principles, methods approach and measurements of Epidemiology.

   • Nutrition, nutritional diseases/diorders and Nutrition Programmes.
   • Health information Collection, Analysis and Presentation.
   • Objectives, components and critical analysis of National programmes for control/eradication of:

Malaris, 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 ana Millennium Development goals.

Management of Hospital and Industrial Waste.

Medical Science optional is one of the few papers in UPSC Mains which is highly specialised and hence has very few takers. Preparation can be done by studying the previous years’ papers and also going through relevant books on Medical Science for UPSC. IAS aspirants should develop knowledge on every area of the Medical Science syllabus to ensure success.

Click here to Download Focus Guide

Click here to Download the syllabus PDF