- Topics Appearing Only in 2024-2025 Papers (New Additions)
These topics represent the latest updates in medical science, guideline revisions, and legislative changes found specifically in the most recent papers (Jan 2024 – July 2025).
- Forensic Medicine – Legal Code Transition:
- A massive shift from the Indian Penal Code (IPC) to the new Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA). Recent papers explicitly test sections like Section 111 BSA (Presumption of death) and Section 26 BNS (Act done in good faith).
- Community Medicine – Digital Health & New Initiatives:
- Tele-MANAS: Questions on the National Tele Mental Health Programme.
- Aarogya Dhan/Lakshmi: Specifics of new health insurance/security schemes.
- Anemia Mukt Bharat: Specifics of the 6x6x6 strategy and prophylactic doses for pregnant women.
- Pharmacology – Novel Therapeutics:
- Voxelotor: Disease-modifying agent for Sickle Cell Anemia.
- Evolocumab: PCSK9 inhibitors for lipid management.
- Teduglutide: GLP-2 analog for short bowel syndrome/resected jejunum.
- Bedaquiline: Specifics on ECG changes (QT prolongation) and its role in MDR-TB.
- Biochemistry & Genetics – Advanced Technologies:
- CRISPR-Cas9: Questions on gene editing technology.
- Zellweger Syndrome: Peroxisomal disorders.
- Microbiology – Emerging Infections:
- Monkeypox: Diagnosis via PCR and clinical presentation.
- Nipah Virus: Clinical vignettes involving geographic clues (Kerala) and exposure (palm fruit).
- Fidaxomicin: Treatment options for C. difficile.
- Subjects Showing Increased Question Complexity
The following subjects have moved away from direct fact-based questions to multi-step reasoning or integrated management.
- Pharmacology (Integrated with Medicine/Pathology):
- Trend: Questions now require calculating dose adjustments based on drug-drug interactions.
- Example: A patient on an ART regimen (Tenofovir/Lamivudine/Dolutegravir) diagnosed with TB requires specific dose adjustment of Dolutegravir.
- Example: Identifying the specific enzyme inhibited by a drug used for gout (Febuxostat inhibiting Xanthine Oxidase) rather than just asking the drug name.
- Pathology (Genetics & Molecular Basis):
- Trend: Shift from simple histological identification to molecular markers and translocations.
- Example: Identifying Dihydrorhodamine (DHR) test patterns for Chronic Granulomatous Disease rather than just the Nitroblue tetrazolium test.
- Example: Identifying NETs (Neutrophil Extracellular Traps) in the context of SLE and sepsis.
- Surgery (Trauma & Critical Care):
- Trend: Focus on protocol-based decision making rather than static anatomy.
- Example: The correct sequence of Damage Control Surgery (Identify -> ICU resuscitation -> Closure -> Hemorrhage control).
- Example: Utilizing qSOFA scores for sepsis assessment.
- Clinical Case-Based vs. Factual Recall Trends
| Feature | 2020 – 2022 Era | 2024 – 2025 Era |
| Question Style | Direct One-Liners: “What is the drug of choice for X?” or “Identify the nerve.” | Long Vignettes: 3-4 sentence clinical history involving age, symptoms, lab values, and history before asking for diagnosis or management. |
| Image Use | Direct Identification: “Identify the instrument” or “Identify the slide.” | Integrated Diagnosis: An image of a peripheral smear is provided, but the question asks for the gene mutation or treatment, not just the diagnosis. |
| Management | Static Treatment: “Best treatment for Appendicitis?” | Conditional Management: “A pregnant female with BP 160/110, lab shows increased liver enzymes (HELLP). What is the next step?” requiring prioritization (stabilization vs. immediate delivery). |
| Guidelines | Standard/Old: IPC sections, Standard TB regimens. | Dynamic/New: New MTP Act 2021 rules (24 weeks limit), BNS sections, and updated NTEP guidelines for TB. |
Analyst Insight: The 2025 papers show a distinct “Next-Generation” pattern. Candidates can no longer rely solely on rote memorization of “most common” lists. Success now requires the ability to diagnose a condition from a clinical story and then apply the latest 2024/2025 guidelines to manage it. Specifically, the Forensic Medicine section requires immediate attention due to the complete overhaul of legal codes from IPC to BNS/BSA.
