Anuj Agnihotri UPSC topper 2026: Meet Rajasthan doctor who secured AIR 1 in civil services exam, enjoys stand-up comedy and cricket

UPSC Topper Anuj Agnihotri

• UPSC CSE 2025 results: Anuj Agnihotri secures AIR 1
• Anuj Agnihotri, AIIMS graduate, secures IAS after DANICS service
• 958 candidates recommended; 180 IAS vacancies across categories

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The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has officially released the final merit list for the Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2025 today, March 06, 2026. Topping the list and securing the All India Rank (AIR) 1 is Anuj Agnihotri, a candidate whose diverse professional background has become a source of inspiration across the country.

Anuj Agnihotri, who hails from the village of Rahata in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, is not a conventional UPSC aspirant. He is a medical graduate from the prestigious All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Jodhpur, having completed his education there in 2023. Prior to appearing for the CSE, Agnihotri was serving in the Delhi, Andaman and Nicobar Islands Civil Service (DANICS), a premier Group 'B' (Gazetted) service responsible for administrative duties in the National Capital Territory of Delhi and other Union Territories.

His journey from a doctor to a DANICS officer and now to the pinnacle of the civil services as an IAS officer underscores a relentless drive to serve the nation. Competing in the General category, Agnihotri, with roll number 1131589, demonstrated exceptional prowess across all three grueling stages of the examination—the Prelims, the Mains, and the Personality Test (Interview).

The UPSC CSE Mains examination 2025 was conducted in August 2025, followed by the Personality Test rounds for shortlisted candidates, which concluded in February 2026. A total of 958 candidates have been recommended for appointment to India's elite services, including the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), Indian Police Service (IPS), and various Central Services (Group 'A' and Group 'B').

While the merit list has been released, final appointments are subject to the number of vacancies reported by the Government of India. For the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), there are a total of 180 vacancies. These are distributed as follows: 74 for General, 47 for OBC, 28 for SC, 18 for EWS, and 13 for the ST category.

Similarly, for the Indian Foreign Service (IFS), 55 vacancies have been reported. The category-wise breakdown for IFS is 22 for General, 15 for OBC, 8 for SC, 6 for EWS, and 4 for the ST category. All appointments will be finalized in strict accordance with these figures and the rules laid out in the Civil Services Examination, 2025.

The success story of Anuj Agnihotri sends a powerful message: diverse academic and professional backgrounds are invaluable assets in the UPSC examination. His transition from medicine to administration, and now to the IAS, highlights the importance of a unique perspective and consistent hard work.