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UPSC Medical Science — Previous Year Questions

Every question from Medical Science papers in UPSC Civil Services Mains (2021–2026), organised by year. 96 questions in total, each with directive-word analysis, model answer points, and a full evaluation rubric.

96Questions
6Years covered

2026 Mains

16 questions · 800 marks

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Paper I 8 Qs · 400 marksPaper II 8 Qs · 400 marks
All 16 questions from 2026

Paper I

  1. Q1 (a) Describe the hip joint under the following headings : (i) Factors responsible for its stability (ii) Arterial… 50 marks
  2. Q2 (a) A 32-year-old male is brought to the emergency department following a road traffic accident. His clinical… 50 marks
  3. Q3 (a) (i) 1. Name the ligaments of ovary and their role in ovarian torsion and its complications. 2. Explain the surgical… 50 marks
  4. Q4 (a) (i) Describe the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow from site of production to its absorption. Write a note on the… 50 marks
  5. Q5 (a) (i) State the therapeutic indications, drug interactions and side effects of Methotrexate. (5 marks) (ii) State the… 50 marks
  6. Q6 (a) (i) Define inflammation. Describe the cardinal features of acute inflammation. (10 marks) (ii) Describe the… 50 marks
  7. Q7 (a) (i) Classify neurotoxic poisons. Discuss in brief the clinical features, treatment and postmortem findings in acute… 50 marks
  8. Q8 (a) (i) 1. Enumerate five agents of malaria in humans. 2. Describe in brief rapid diagnostic test (RDT) used for… 50 marks

Paper II

  1. Q1 (a) Discuss the various sputum-based tests for the diagnosis of tuberculosis under the National Programme in India… 50 marks
  2. Q2 (a) A 20-year-old medical student presents with fever, dry cough, and right-sided chest pain. She also has loss of… 50 marks
  3. Q3 (a) An 18-year-old girl presents with episodic breathlessness, cough with sputum, chest tightness and wheezing for the… 50 marks
  4. Q4 (a) A 45-year-old hepatitis-C positive patient presents with icterus, oliguria, abdominal distention and blood in… 50 marks
  5. Q5 (a) Enumerate the causes of lower gastrointestinal bleeding in an adult. Discuss the management of actively bleeding… 50 marks
  6. Q6 (a) (i) Describe the causes of occipito-posterior position and different modes of delivery in the occipito-posterior… 50 marks
  7. Q7 (a) Describe the various complications of acute pancreatitis. Discuss the role of surgery in acute pancreatitis. (20… 50 marks
  8. Q8 (a) (i) What are the main objectives and key strategies of the National Strategic Plan (NSP) for Tuberculosis… 50 marks

2025 Mains

16 questions · 800 marks

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Paper I 8 Qs · 400 marksPaper II 8 Qs · 400 marks
All 16 questions from 2025

Paper I

  1. Q1 (a) Describe the formation, course and branches of ulnar nerve. Which muscles do each of the branches supply ? Why is… 50 marks
  2. Q2 (a) Using a well labelled diagram, trace the taste pathway from circumvallate papillae of tongue to the cerebral… 50 marks
  3. Q3 (a) A 36-year-old cyclist suffered pelvic injury while riding into a pothole on the road. Following this incident, he… 50 marks
  4. Q4 (a) (i) A 55-year-old lady visits surgery OPD with a three month old history of a painless hard swelling in her left… 50 marks
  5. Q5 (a) (i) Enumerate the topical antifungal drugs along with their indication and side effects. 5 marks (ii) Name… 50 marks
  6. Q6 (a) (i) Describe the approach to laboratory diagnosis of chronic myeloid leukemia – chronic phase. 10 marks (ii)… 50 marks
  7. Q7 (a) (i) Define 'drowning'. Enumerate the different modes of death in a case of drowning. List the postmortem findings… 50 marks
  8. Q8 (a) (i) Describe the challenges of circulating Vaccine-Derived Poliovirus (VDPV). Add a note on the environmental… 50 marks

Paper II

  1. Q1 (a) Briefly describe the role of lifestyle interventions in prevention of coronary artery disease. 10 (b) Discuss the… 50 marks
  2. Q2 (a) A 23-year-old woman with type I diabetes mellitus presents with nausea, vomiting and altered sensorium. On… 50 marks
  3. Q3 (a) (i) Elaborate the indications for initiating antiviral therapy in a patient with chronic hepatitis B. (ii) Write… 50 marks
  4. Q4 (a) (i) How do you differentiate between acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) and acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) based on… 50 marks
  5. Q5 (a) (i) Enumerate the advantages as well as the limitations of laparoscopic surgery. (ii) Describe the different… 50 marks
  6. Q6 (a) (i) Classify hypertensive disorders in pregnancy. (ii) Enumerate the types and complications of eclampsia. (iii)… 50 marks
  7. Q7 (a) (i) Describe the clinical features and diagnostic workup of a suspected case of peritonitis. (ii) Enumerate the… 50 marks
  8. Q8 (a) Under the National Framework for Malaria Elimination in India, what are the targets set for the years 2027 and 2030… 50 marks

2024 Mains

16 questions · 800 marks

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Paper I 8 Qs · 400 marksPaper II 8 Qs · 400 marks
All 16 questions from 2024

Paper I

  1. Q1 Describe the radial nerve under the following headings: (i) Origin and course (ii) Branches and muscles supplied (iii)… 50 marks
  2. Q2 A middle-aged female notices a lump in the midline of the neck. She notices it moves with swallowing. The surgeon gives… 50 marks
  3. Q3 Describe the uterus under the following headings: (i) Gross anatomy (ii) Ligaments and supports (iii) Relations of… 50 marks
  4. Q4 Describe the facial nerve under the following headings: 1. Functional columns and nuclei of origin 2. Course and… 50 marks
  5. Q5 Discuss the antiviral spectrum and therapeutic uses of acyclovir. Doxorubicin is an antibiotic. Enumerate its role in… 50 marks
  6. Q6 Describe the microscopic features of breast cancer. Enumerate any five major prognostic factors. Enumerate any five… 50 marks
  7. Q7 Define death due to hanging. What are the probable causes of death in hanging? What are the findings in a case of… 50 marks
  8. Q8 What is enteric fever? What are its causative agents? Give a detailed presentation of a case according to the time of… 50 marks

Paper II

  1. Q1 (a) Discuss in short the role of a Chest X-ray in the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis. (10 marks) (b) Describe the… 50 marks
  2. Q2 (a) (i) Discuss in short about the different modalities used in the diagnosis of Extra-Pulmonary Tuberculosis. (10… 50 marks
  3. Q3 (a) Describe the clinical features, diagnosis and treatment of Kala-azar. 20 marks (b) What are the types of vaccines… 50 marks
  4. Q4 (a) A sixty-year-old male develops central chest pain while walking uphill. The pain is squeezing in character… 50 marks
  5. Q5 (a) (i) Enlist conditions having an increased risk of malignant disease in bone and cartilage. (ii) Briefly mention… 50 marks
  6. Q6 (a) (i) A 22-year-old Unbooked Primigravida at 38 weeks of gestation presents to Emergency with labour pains. How would… 50 marks
  7. Q7 (a) A 50-year-old male presented with a 3 cm nodule in the left lobe of thyroid gland with a hard left cervical lymph… 50 marks
  8. Q8 (a) (i) What are the different types of epidemiological studies? (ii) What are the possible sources of control in… 50 marks

2023 Mains

16 questions · 800 marks

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Paper I 8 Qs · 400 marksPaper II 8 Qs · 400 marks
All 16 questions from 2023

Paper I

  1. Q1 A 35-year-old male smoker with complaints of difficulty in swallowing and ulcer on tip of his tongue for last one… 50 marks
  2. Q2 A 56-year-old male visits a surgery OPD with complaints of difficulty in passage of urine especially on straining… 50 marks
  3. Q3 (a) (i) Describe the following regarding the knee joint : (I) All movements including locking and unlocking with… 50 marks
  4. Q4 (a) (i) Describe the role of SRY (Sex-determining region on Y gene) transcription factors in testicular development. 10… 50 marks
  5. Q5 (a) Enumerate various classes of antihypertensive drugs. Briefly discuss the role of calcium channel blockers in the… 50 marks
  6. Q6 (a) (i) Enumerate any five risk factors for oral cancer. Describe its morphology. 5+5=10 (ii) Enumerate five causes of… 50 marks
  7. Q7 (a) Classify the various types of poisons. Enumerate the features of Plumbism. Discuss the tests which will… 50 marks
  8. Q8 (a) (i) Describe the morphological characteristics of *Cryptococcus neoformans* on microscopic examination. Discuss the… 50 marks

Paper II

  1. Q1 (a) (i) Enlist the clinical features of dengue fever. (ii) Outline the management of a patient with dengue haemorrhagic… 50 marks
  2. Q2 (a) A 30-year-old female has been brought to medical emergency with a history of low-grade fever, headache, anorexia… 50 marks
  3. Q3 (a) Discuss in short the aetiology, clinical features, investigations and management of chronic renal failure… 50 marks
  4. Q4 (a) A 20-year-old male has presented to the medicine OPD. He has complaints of episodes of breathlessness associated… 50 marks
  5. Q5 (a) A 65-year-old lady has progressively increasing dysphagia for last 6 months. She also has significant weight loss… 50 marks
  6. Q6 (a) (i) Enumerate the causes for postpartum haemorrhage (PPH). (ii) Discuss the management of PPH. (10+10=20 marks) (b)… 50 marks
  7. Q7 (a) (i) Enumerate the causes of radio-opacities on a plain abdominal radiograph. (ii) Enlist the causes of… 50 marks
  8. Q8 (a) State the vision, goals and objectives of the National Framework for Malaria Elimination in India, 2016-2030. What… 50 marks

2022 Mains

16 questions · 800 marks

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Paper I 8 Qs · 400 marksPaper II 8 Qs · 400 marks
All 16 questions from 2022

Paper I

  1. Q1 (a) Discuss the stomach under the following headings: (i) Peritoneal relations (ii) Blood supply (iii) Lymphatic… 50 marks
  2. Q2 (a) Describe the anatomy of uterus under the following headings: (i) Gross features (ii) Relations of uterus (iii)… 50 marks
  3. Q3 (a) (i) Discuss the functions of basal ganglia. Add a note on Parkinson's disease. (5+5=10 marks) (ii) Discuss the… 50 marks
  4. Q4 (a) (i) Explain the mechanism of iron absorption in the intestine. What are the factors regulating the process? (15… 50 marks
  5. Q5 (a) Describe the molecular mechanisms of carcinogenesis of breast carcinoma. Describe the salient histopathological… 50 marks
  6. Q6 (a) (i) Describe in brief the pathogenesis and histopathological features of rheumatic heart disease. (10 marks) (ii)… 50 marks
  7. Q7 (a) What are organophosphate compounds? Discuss briefly the clinical features, treatment and postmortem findings of a… 50 marks
  8. Q8 (a) (i) Enumerate different species of Aspergillus and the infections caused by them. Give the laboratory diagnosis of… 50 marks

Paper II

  1. Q1 (a) Enumerate the imaging modalities used in the diagnosis of cardiac diseases. List their specific indications in… 50 marks
  2. Q2 (a) Discuss in brief the etiology, clinical features, diagnosis and treatment of nephrotic syndrome in a 40 year old… 50 marks
  3. Q3 (a) (i) Discuss in brief about the diet and exercise related advice given to a 35 year old male diagnosed with… 50 marks
  4. Q4 (a) A 25 year old female has presented to the medicine OPD with complaints of excessive tiredness, cold intolerance and… 50 marks
  5. Q5 (a) (i) Name the clinical tests for checking sapheno-femoral junction competence and deep venous system patency. (ii)… 50 marks
  6. Q6 (a) Define 'pre-eclampsia'. Enumerate the risk factors which may lead to this condition. What are its clinical signs… 50 marks
  7. Q7 (a) A 40 year old lady came to casualty with pain in the right upper abdomen associated with vomitings for 5 days. On… 50 marks
  8. Q8 (a) The ‘End TB Strategy’ is an evolution over the previous strategies to win over tuberculosis. (i) What are the key… 50 marks

2021 Mains

16 questions · 800 marks

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Paper I 8 Qs · 400 marksPaper II 8 Qs · 400 marks
All 16 questions from 2021

Paper I

  1. Q1 (a) Describe the formation, course, tributaries and termination of coronary sinus. 10 marks (b) Describe the role of… 50 marks
  2. Q2 (a) Describe the prostate under the following headings: (i) Gross features (ii) Lobes (iii) Capsules and ligaments (iv)… 50 marks
  3. Q3 (a) Elaborate on the hormonal regulation of blood glucose level. Explain in brief the signs and symptoms of… 50 marks
  4. Q4 (a) Explain in detail the absorption and hormonal regulation of blood calcium in body. Discuss in brief the clinical… 50 marks
  5. Q5 (a) Define 'metastasis'. Enumerate the steps involved in metastasis. Write briefly about the role of stromal elements… 50 marks
  6. Q6 (a) Define ischemic heart disease. Enumerate four ischemic syndromes. Discuss the pathogenesis of myocardial… 50 marks
  7. Q7 (a) Define poison and classify it. Describe the treatment of venomous snakebite. Write a note on 'designer drug'. 15… 50 marks
  8. Q8 (a) (i) Describe the uniqueness of Pulse Polio Programme in India. 10 marks (ii) A 28-year-old man with history of HIV… 50 marks

Paper II

  1. Q1 (a) Discuss in brief the role of ultrasound in the investigation of pain in right hypochondrium. (10 marks) (b) Outline… 50 marks
  2. Q2 (a) A sixty-year-old diabetic male presented to the emergency department with acute onset, central squeezing type of… 50 marks
  3. Q3 (a) A 40-year-old male who was bedridden for the last two months following a fracture in the lower limb developed… 50 marks
  4. Q4 (a) Discuss in short the etiology, diagnosis, treatment and complications of cirrhosis of liver. (5+5+5+5=20 marks) (b)… 50 marks
  5. Q5 (a) Briefly describe the clinical features, diagnostic workup and management of a patient of choledochal cyst… 50 marks
  6. Q6 (a) (i) Write in brief the reasons for rising Caesarean Section rates globally and in India. (5 marks) (ii) Discuss… 50 marks
  7. Q7 (a) A 60-year-old male presents with progressively increasing jaundice for 2 months. He is having clay coloured stools… 50 marks
  8. Q8 (a) (i) Summarise the spectrum of Iodine Deficiency Disorders. (10 marks) (ii) State the goal, objectives and salient… 50 marks

How Medical Science answers are marked

The shape the examiner expects, what earns the marks and the traps that lose them: the same card our rubrics for this subject are written from.

Answer skeleton

  1. Definition
  2. Aetiology and pathophysiology
  3. Features
  4. Investigation and management

What earns the marks

  • Follow the clinical sequence every time
  • Use a flow diagram for pathophysiology
  • Give investigations in order of priority
  • Management in three tiers: immediate, definitive, follow-up

What earns the extra mark

  • Current guideline
  • National health programme

Traps that cost marks

  • Listing symptoms without mechanism
  • Management without priority
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