Medical Science Optional Syllabus – UPSC

The UPSC includes Medical Science as one of the optional subjects among the 48 subjects available for candidates to choose from. The syllabus for Medical Science in the UPSC exam is highly specialized and covers a wide range of medical topics, including anatomy, physiology, pathology, pharmacology, and medical ethics.

Candidates who opt for Medical Science as their optional subject will have to appear for two papers, each carrying 250 marks, resulting in a total of 500 marks for this subject. These optional papers form an important part of the UPSC Mains Examination, which is conducted after the IAS Preliminary exam. While Medical Science may not be as commonly chosen as some other subjects for the IAS Mains exam, candidates with a medical degree or a strong background in Medical Science have the opportunity to select it as their preferred optional subject.

Medical Science Optional Syllabus: Paper-1

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 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 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, 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 pancreas and pituitary gland.
• Physiology of reproductive system: menstrual cycle, lactation, pregnancy.
• Blood: Development, regulation, and the 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).
• Radioimmunoassays (RIA).

4. Pathology:

• Inflammation and repair, disturbances of growth and cancer, Pathogenesis and histopathology of rheumatic and ischemic 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:

• 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 

6. Pharmacology:

• 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

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 Syllabus: Paper-2

1. General Medicine:

• Etiology, clinical features, diagnosis, and principles of management (including prevention) of – Tetanus, Rabies, AIDS, Dengue, Kala-azar, and 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 the liver.
• Glomerulonephritis and pyelonephritis, renal failure, nephrotic syndrome, renovascular hypertension, complications of diabetes mellitus, coagulation disorders, leukemia, Hypo, and hyper thyrodism, meningitis, and encephalitis.
• Imaging in medical problems, ultrasound, echocardiogram, CT scan,  MRI.
• Anxiety and Depressive Psychosis and schizophrenia and ECT.

2. Pediatrics:

• Immunization, Baby-friendly hospital, congenital cyanotic heart disease, respiratory distress syndrome, broncho-pneumonias, kernicterus. IMNCI classification and management, PEM grading and management. ARI and Diarrhea of under five and their management.

3. Dermatology:

• Psoriasis, Allergic dermatitis, scabies, eczema, vitiligo, Stevan Johnson’s syndrome, Lichen Planus.

4. General Surgery:

• Clinical features, causes, diagnosis, and principles of management of cleft palate, harelip.
• Laryngeal tumor, oral and esophageal tumors.
• Peripheral arterial diseases, varicose veins, coarctation of the aorta
• Tumors of Thyroid, Adrenal Glands
• Abscess, cancer, fibroadenoma, and adenosis of the breast.
• Bleeding peptic ulcer, tuberculosis of the bowel, ulcerative colitis, cancer stomach.
• Renal mass, cancer Prostate.
• Haemothorax, stones of the Gall bladder, Kidney, Ureter, and Urinary Bladder.
• Management of surgical conditions of the Rectum, Anus, Anal canal, Gall bladder, and Bile ducts
• Splenomegaly,  cholecystitis, portal hypertension, liver abscess, peritonitis, carcinoma head of the pancreas.
• Fractures of the spine, Colles’ fracture, and bone tumors.
• Endoscopy
• Laparoscopic Surgery.

5. Obstetrics and Gynaecology including Family Planning:

• Diagnosis of pregnancy.
• Labor management, complications of 3rd stage, Antepartum, and postpartum hemorrhage, resuscitation of the newborn, Management of abnormal lie and difficult labor, Management of small for a 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 the uterus.

6. Community Medicine (Preventive and Social Medicine):

• Principles, methods, approach, and measurements of Epidemiology
• Nutrition, nutritional diseases/disorders & Nutrition Programmes.
• Health information Collection, Analysis, and Presentation.
• Objectives, components, and critical analysis of National programs 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.
• Objective, Component, Goals, and Status of Reproductive and Child Health, National Rural Health Mission and Millennium Development Goals Management of hospital and industrial waste.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1: What are the key topics covered in the Medical Science optional syllabus for competitive exams like the UPSC Civil Services Examination?

Answer: The Medical Science optional syllabus for exams like UPSC Civil Services covers a broad range of topics, including but not limited to:

1. Paper I:
   • Human Anatomy
   • Human Physiology
   • Biochemistry
   • Pathology
   • Microbiology
   • Pharmacology
   • Forensic Medicine and Toxicology
2. Paper II:
   • General Medicine
   • Pediatrics
   • Psychiatry
   • Dermatology and Venereology
   • Surgery
   • Gynecology and Obstetrics
   • Preventive and Social Medicine

Aspirants are advised to thoroughly go through the detailed syllabus provided by the examination authorities and focus on both the basic and clinical aspects of each subject.

Q2: How can I effectively prepare for the Medical Science optional paper in UPSC exams?

Answer: Effective preparation for the Medical Science optional paper involves a strategic approach:

1. Thorough Understanding of Syllabus: Begin by understanding the syllabus and identifying key topics. Prioritize your study based on the weightage given to each topic.
2. Integration of Knowledge: Since the syllabus spans both basic and clinical sciences, integrate your knowledge. Understand the interconnectedness of topics to answer questions comprehensively.
3. Regular Revision: Medical Science is vast, and regular revision is crucial. Create a revision schedule to reinforce your understanding of concepts and facts.
4. Practice with Previous Years’ Papers: Practice solving previous years’ question papers to familiarize yourself with the exam pattern and gain confidence. This will also help in time management during the actual exam.
5. Stay Updated: Medical science is an evolving field. Stay updated with recent advancements, especially in fields like pharmacology, microbiology, and preventive medicine.

Q3: Are there any recommended books for the Medical Science optional paper in UPSC exams?

Answer: Yes, there are several recommended books for Medical Science optional preparation. Some of them include:

1. Anatomy: Gray’s Anatomy, B.D. Chaurasia’s Human Anatomy.
2. Physiology: Guyton and Hall Textbook of Medical Physiology.
3. Biochemistry: Harper’s Illustrated Biochemistry, Lippincott’s Illustrated Reviews: Biochemistry.
4. Pathology: Robbins and Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease.
5. Pharmacology: Katzung & Trevor’s Pharmacology: Examination and Board Review.
6. Medicine: Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine.
7. Pediatrics: Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics.
8. Obstetrics and Gynecology: Williams Obstetrics, Dutta’s Textbook of Obstetrics.
9. Preventive and Social Medicine: Park’s Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine.

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