On 6th March 2026, the Union Public Service Commission declared the final result of the Civil Services Examination 2025. The name sitting right at the top of that list was Anuj Agnihotri. A 26-year-old doctor from Rawatbhata, Rajasthan. No coaching centre. No big-city upbringing. Just 13 hours of daily self-study and three years of determined preparation.
He secured All India Rank 1 (AIR 1) with roll number 1131589 under the General category. Right now, he is serving as a probationer in DANICS (Delhi, Andaman and Nicobar Islands Civil Service). His IAS posting is next. His story is the kind that every UPSC aspirant reads twice.
Quick Fact: Anuj is an MBBS graduate from AIIMS Jodhpur who chose Medical Science as his UPSC optional subject — and used that background to great effect in the Mains exam.
“We are proud of our son today. I am sure he will become one of the best IAS officers in the country.”
— Father of Anuj Agnihotri
Anuj Agnihotri: Quick Profile
| Full Name | Anuj Agnihotri |
| UPSC Exam | Civil Services Examination 2025 (Result: March 2026) |
| All India Rank | AIR 1 |
| Roll Number | 1131589 |
| Category | General |
| Home State | Rajasthan |
| Hometown | Rawatbhata (near Chittorgarh) |
| Age (Approx.) | 26–28 years (born 1997–1999) |
| Education | MBBS — AIIMS Jodhpur (2023) |
| Optional Subject | Medical Science |
| Total Attempts | 3rd Attempt |
| Current Service | DANICS Probationer (Group B Gazetted) |
| Interview Prep | Ensure IAS |
| Coaching | None (self-study) |
Anuj Agnihotri — Age and Early Life
Anuj Agnihotri was born somewhere between 1997 and 1999, putting him in the 26–28 year age bracket at the time of his selection. He grew up in Rawatbhata, a small town in Rajasthan’s Chittorgarh district. It is not a city known for producing UPSC toppers. It is mostly known for being next to a nuclear power plant, where Anuj’s father works.
His early school years happened at Atomic Energy Central School, a school that runs for children of nuclear facility employees. It is a disciplined environment, strong in science. When it came to Class 11 and 12, Anuj moved to MB Public Senior Secondary School in Kota. Anyone familiar with Indian education knows what Kota means. It is India’s coaching capital. The place where hundreds of thousands of students come every year to prepare for engineering and medical entrances.
Anuj grew up in that world of competition from the very beginning. His father told reporters: “We are proud of our son today. I am sure that he will be one of the best IAS officers in the country.” That quote says as much about his upbringing as it does about his result.
Educational Background: From AIIMS to IAS
After school in Kota, Anuj cleared the NEET entrance and secured admission at AIIMS Jodhpur — one of the most prestigious medical institutions in India. He completed his MBBS degree in 2023.
Most AIIMS graduates either pursue postgraduate medical studies, join hospitals, or go abroad for specialisation. Anuj chose a completely different direction. He decided to sit for the UPSC Civil Services Examination.
Why Did He Leave Medicine for UPSC?
This is a question many people ask. The honest answer is that Anuj always wanted to serve at a systemic level. Medicine treats one patient at a time. A well-placed IAS officer can shape policy that affects millions. He has spoken about wanting to bring change at a scale that medicine alone cannot reach.
But there is also a practical angle. By choosing Medical Science as his optional subject, Anuj did not throw away his years of medical study. He used them. The optional subject contributes 500 marks to the Mains total. A candidate who already holds an MBBS has a genuine head start in this subject over aspirants who are learning it fresh.
Strategy Insight: Think of your optional subject like choosing a sport for a competition. If you have been playing cricket for 5 years, entering the cricket event beats starting a new game from zero. Anuj picked the event he already knew well.
For more on how the UPSC exam is structured from Prelims to Mains, visit our detailed guide: UPSC Exam Syllabus 2026: Complete Overview.
Anuj Agnihotri’s UPSC Journey: Three Attempts to AIR 1
Anuj did not crack UPSC in one shot. Very few people do. His journey across three attempts tells a story of progress, patience, and learning from every stage.
| Attempt | Outcome |
| 1st Attempt | Selected for DANICS (Group B Gazetted Service) |
| 2nd Attempt | Continued preparation, aimed for improvement |
| 3rd Attempt (CSE 2025) | All India Rank 1 — UPSC Topper |
His first attempt was not a failure. Getting into DANICS is a real achievement. Most aspirants would stop there and be satisfied. Anuj was not. He saw it as a stepping stone, kept his head down, and kept preparing alongside his DANICS probationary duties.
That is actually one of the more impressive parts of his story. He was working as a probationer in government service while simultaneously preparing for the next attempt. He balanced both, and he made it work.
His journey mirrors what many great athletes do. They compete at state level, lose the national final, go back and train harder, and then win it all. Anuj did the same with UPSC.
If you are at the beginning of this journey and want to understand the exam from the ground up, read: How to Start UPSC Preparation With Graduation.
School – Atomic Energy Central School
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Kota Schooling – MB Public School
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AIIMS Jodhpur – MBBS (2023)
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UPSC Attempt 1 – DANICS
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UPSC Attempt 2 – Continued Prep
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UPSC Attempt 3 – AIR 1
Anuj Agnihotri’s Preparation Strategy: What Actually Worked
No coaching. No classroom. Just 13 hours a day. That is the foundation of Anuj’s preparation. His father confirmed this publicly, stating that Anuj never went to any coaching centre for UPSC. Everything he studied, he studied on his own.
1. Daily Study Hours and Routine
Anuj studied for approximately 13 hours every day. For context, that is more than a full standard workday plus overtime. But the key is not just the number. It is the consistency. Day after day, he maintained that schedule. Not for a week. Not for a month. For the length of his preparation.
Think of it like compound interest. One day of 13-hour study does not change much. But 365 days of it adds up to something enormous.
2. Self-Study with Online Resources
Since Anuj did not attend coaching, he relied on structured online study material, standard UPSC preparation books, and digital resources. He built his own notes and revised them regularly. For his Interview preparation, he specifically sought guidance from Ensure IAS, a platform focused on the UPSC Personality Test.
Looking for quality online study tools for your own UPSC prep? Our guide on Best Mock Test for UPSC 2026 covers test series worth adding to your schedule.
3. Medical Science Optional: A Smart, Strength-Based Choice
Anuj chose Medical Science as his optional subject. This is a specialised optional that most aspirants without a medical degree simply cannot take on. For Anuj, with an MBBS from AIIMS, it was the obvious, logical choice.
Medical Science has a defined syllabus, high scoring potential for those with the background, and is not as crowded as subjects like History or Geography. Anuj did not just know the content. He understood it deeply, which is exactly what UPSC rewards.
4. Revision Over Random Reading
One of the clearest patterns in how toppers study is that they revise more than they read. Many aspirants keep reading new material right until exam day. Toppers typically stop adding new content much earlier and shift entirely to revision. Anuj’s self-study approach suggests he followed this model.
5. Answer Writing and Interview Preparation
The UPSC Interview carries 275 marks. That is not a number you can ignore. Anuj prepared specifically for this stage with Ensure IAS. Good answer writing in Mains and clear communication in the Interview together round off a topper’s performance.
For a practical breakdown of how toppers organise their notes, see: Toppers Notes UPSC 2026: PDF and Subject-Wise Guide.
Anuj’s Preparation Strategy at a Glance
| Strategy Element | Details |
| Daily Study Hours | ~13 hours/day, consistent routine |
| Coaching | None — fully self-taught |
| Online Resources | Study material, digital notes, video lectures |
| Optional Subject | Medical Science (leveraged MBBS background) |
| Interview Prep | Ensure IAS (specialised interview guidance) |
| Revision Approach | Consistent revision over new reading |
| Answer Writing | Regular practice for Mains descriptive papers |
Anuj Agnihotri Marks and UPSC CSE 2025 Final Result
The UPSC CSE final merit is calculated out of a total of 2,025 marks:
- Mains Examination: 1,750 marks (across 7 papers that count)
- Personality Test (Interview): 275 marks
- Total: 2,025 marks
UPSC TOTAL MARKS
PRELIMS
Screening Test
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MAINS
1750 Marks
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INTERVIEW
275 Marks
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FINAL MERIT
2025 Marks
The official paper-wise marksheet for Anuj Agnihotri has not been released publicly yet. UPSC releases individual marks separately through their official portal. Candidates and researchers can check: upsc.gov.in — Marks Information for verified data once available.
A total of 958 candidates were recommended in UPSC CSE 2025 out of 979 total vacancies. Given that Anuj topped this batch, his combined Mains and Interview score would rank among the highest in the country.
For Aspirants: Use the UPSC Marks Calculator to estimate your own Prelims score before the official result. It is a useful planning tool:
UPSC Marks Calculator (Prelims + Mains).
UPSC CSE 2025 Toppers List: Top Ranks
Here are the top candidates from the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2025 final merit list, declared on 6th March 2026:
| Rank | Name | Category |
| AIR 1 | Anuj Agnihotri | General |
| AIR 2 | Rajeshwari Suve M | General |
| AIR 3 | Akansh Dhull | General |
| AIR 4 | Raghav Jhunjhunwala | General |
| AIR 5 | Ishan Bhatnagar | General |
| AIR 6 | Zinnia Aurora | General |
| AIR 7 | A R Rajah Mohaideen | General |
Total recommended candidates: 958 out of 979 vacancies
| Rank | Name | Category | Background |
|---|---|---|---|
| AIR 1 | Anuj Agnihotri | General | MBBS – AIIMS |
| AIR 2 | Rajeshwari Suve | General | Engineering |
| AIR 3 | Akansh Dhull | General | Law |
UPSC Toppers Comparison: Anuj Agnihotri vs Recent AIR 1 Winners
Every year’s topper becomes a reference point for lakhs of aspirants. Here is how Anuj compares to the last three UPSC toppers:
| Year (Exam) | AIR 1 | Notable Background |
| CSE 2025 (Result 2026) | Anuj Agnihotri | MBBS — AIIMS Jodhpur, Medical Science optional, 3rd attempt, No coaching |
| CSE 2024 (Result 2025) | Shakti Dubey | Scored 1,043/2,025. Widely celebrated women topper. |
| CSE 2023 (Result 2024) | Aditya Srivastava | Result declared 16th April 2024. Engineering background. |
What makes Anuj distinct is his medical background. Most recent toppers have come from engineering or humanities. A doctor topping UPSC is less common, and his Medical Science optional strategy sets him apart from a preparation angle.
Service Allocation: What Happens Next for Anuj Agnihotri?
With AIR 1, Anuj gets first choice of both service and cadre allocation. The Indian Administrative Service (IAS) is almost certain to be his preference. AIR 1 every year typically chooses IAS.
After service allocation is processed, selected candidates go to LBSNAA (Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration) in Mussoorie, Uttarakhand. This is where new IAS officers undergo their foundational training. Think of LBSNAA as the final academic year before the real career begins. Officers learn governance, district administration, laws, and practical policymaking.
Currently, as a DANICS probationer, Anuj is already getting hands-on experience in administrative work within the National Capital Territory of Delhi. That head start will serve him well.
- Service preference: IAS (Indian Administrative Service)
- Training location: LBSNAA, Mussoorie
- Current role: DANICS Probationer — Group B Gazetted
- Next step: Final IAS cadre allocation post LBSNAA training
Why Anuj Agnihotri’s Story Matters for Every Aspirant
Let us be direct about what this story actually says to current and future UPSC aspirants.
Small-town India can produce the top rank
Anuj is from Rawatbhata. Not Delhi. Not Allahabad. Not Hyderabad. A town most people have never heard of. The idea that top UPSC ranks come only from big cities or metro coaching hubs is simply not true. His result is proof of that.
Coaching is not the only road
This is perhaps the most useful lesson. Anuj spent zero rupees on coaching for his main UPSC preparation. He used online resources. He made his own notes. He revised consistently. For candidates who cannot afford expensive coaching or who are in towns without coaching centres, Anuj’s approach shows a clear and proven alternative.
Interested in AI-assisted self-study methods that work well for UPSC? See: 11 Proven ChatGPT Prompts for UPSC Preparation 2026.
Use what you already know
Anuj had 5 years of MBBS behind him. He did not discard that. He chose Medical Science as his optional and used every bit of that education. If you have a background in engineering, economics, history, or anything else, your optional subject choice should reflect that. Play to your strength.
Attempts are not failures
He sat for UPSC three times. The first attempt gave him a government job. The second gave him experience. The third gave him the top rank. If he had quit after the first or second attempt, none of this would have happened. The most important preparation decision is often just to keep going.
Frequently Asked Questions About Anuj Agnihotri
Who is the UPSC topper 2025?
Anuj Agnihotri is the UPSC CSE 2025 topper. He secured All India Rank 1. The result was officially declared by the Union Public Service Commission on 6th March 2026.
What is Anuj Agnihotri’s age?
Anuj Agnihotri is approximately 26 to 28 years old. He completed his MBBS from AIIMS Jodhpur in 2023, which places his birth year between 1997 and 1999.
Which optional subject did Anuj Agnihotri choose?
He chose Medical Science as his optional subject for UPSC Mains. This was a natural choice given his MBBS degree from AIIMS Jodhpur. The optional contributes 500 marks to the total Mains score.
How many attempts did it take Anuj Agnihotri?
Anuj cracked UPSC in his 3rd attempt. In his first attempt, he was selected for DANICS. He continued preparing alongside his probationary duties and secured AIR 1 in the third attempt.
Did Anuj Agnihotri take coaching for UPSC?
No. His father confirmed publicly that Anuj never enrolled in any coaching institute for UPSC. He prepared through self-study using online resources. For the Interview stage, he took guidance from Ensure IAS.
Where is Anuj Agnihotri from?
He is from Rawatbhata, Rajasthan. His family is connected to the nuclear power plant in the area, where his father works. He completed his schooling in Kota and his MBBS at AIIMS Jodhpur.
What is Anuj Agnihotri’s roll number?
His UPSC roll number is 1131589. He appeared in the General category.
Who was the UPSC topper in 2024?
Shakti Dubey was the UPSC CSE 2024 topper (AIR 1). She scored 1,043 marks out of 2,025. The result was declared in April 2025.
What is the total marks in UPSC final selection?
UPSC final merit is calculated out of 2,025 marks: 1,750 marks from the Mains exam and 275 marks from the Personality Test (Interview).
What is Anuj Agnihotri’s caste?
The exact caste of Anuj Agnihotri has not been officially disclosed in public records or UPSC documents. Media reports mainly mention his hometown Rawatbhata in Rajasthan and his educational background.
What is Anuj Agnihotri’s caste category in UPSC?
Anuj Agnihotri cleared the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2025 under the General category.
What optional subject did Anuj Agnihotri choose in UPSC?
Anuj Agnihotri selected Medical Science as his optional subject in the UPSC Mains exam.
Since he completed MBBS from AIIMS Jodhpur, Medical Science was a natural and strategic choice for him.
Is Anuj Agnihotri an IAS officer?
Yes. After securing All India Rank 1 in UPSC CSE 2025, Anuj Agnihotri will join the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) after completing training at LBSNAA Mussoorie.
Conclusion
Anuj Agnihotri’s AIR 1 in UPSC CSE 2025 is not just a personal achievement. It is a case study in smart, disciplined preparation. He came from a small town. He did not attend coaching. He failed to reach the top rank twice and kept going anyway. He used his medical education as a strategic advantage, not as a burden.
For every aspirant asking whether they can do this without the right city, the right college, or the right coaching — Anuj’s story is your answer. Consistent effort and a clear strategy still win.
The UPSC exam tests your knowledge, your thinking, and your patience. Anuj showed strength in all three. If you are preparing right now, take the specific, practical lessons from his journey. Study long. Revise often. Choose your optional wisely. And keep going after a setback.
For the latest UPSC updates, preparation guides, and exam analysis, visit SD Research World — UPSC Section.
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