UPSC CSE 2025 Topper: Who Is Anuj Agnihotri?

Anuj Agnihotri has secured All India Rank 1 (AIR-1) in the Union Public Service Commission Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2025, one of India’s most prestigious and competitive exams. The final results were announced in March 2026, with 958 candidates recommended for appointments in services such as IAS, IPS, IFS, and other central government roles.

His remarkable achievement has drawn nationwide attention and inspired thousands of UPSC aspirants across the country.

Early Life and Background

Anuj Agnihotri hails from Rawatbhata in Rajasthan, a small town near Kota. He completed his early schooling in his hometown before moving to Jodhpur for higher education.

From a young age, he showed strong academic ability and dedication to studies, which later helped him succeed in one of the toughest examinations in India.

Educational Qualification

Before becoming the UPSC topper, Anuj pursued a career in medicine.

• He completed his MBBS from All India Institute of Medical Sciences Jodhpur (AIIMS Jodhpur) in 2023.
• During his medical internship, he began preparing for the civil services examination.

His academic background in medicine helped him develop analytical thinking and discipline, which proved valuable during UPSC preparation.

Career Before UPSC Top Rank

Before securing the top rank in UPSC CSE 2025, Anuj was already serving in the Delhi, Andaman and Nicobar Islands Civil Service (DANICS), a Group-B administrative service.

This experience in governance gave him a deeper understanding of public administration and strengthened his motivation to join the higher civil services.

UPSC Journey and Preparation

Anuj Agnihotri cracked the UPSC examination in his third attempt.

Key highlights of his preparation include:

• Studying around 13 hours daily
• Relying mostly on self-study rather than coaching
• Choosing Medical Science as his optional subject, aligning with his MBBS background
• Maintaining consistent revision and conceptual clarity across subjects

His disciplined study routine and persistence played a crucial role in achieving AIR-1.

UPSC CSE 2025 Result Highlights

• AIR-1: Anuj Agnihotri
• AIR-2: Rajeshwari Suve M
• AIR-3: Akansh Dhull

The Civil Services Examination includes three stages:

1. Preliminary Examination
2. Mains Examination
3. Personality Test (Interview)

Candidates’ final ranking is based on marks obtained in the Mains and Interview stages, totaling 2025 marks.

Motivation Behind Choosing Civil Services

Despite having a promising career in medicine, Anuj chose civil services because he wanted a profession with diverse responsibilities and broader social impact.

He believed that civil services provide an opportunity to work across sectors and bring meaningful change in governance and society.

Inspiration for Aspirants

Anuj Agnihotri’s journey—from a small town in Rajasthan to becoming the UPSC CSE 2025 topper—is widely seen as a powerful example