A doctor who left medicine for public service. A World Bank professional who returned to the exam after already clearing it once. A Carnatic musician-doctor who learned about his rank after Friday prayers during Ramzan.
These are some of the stories behind the results of the Civil Services Examination 2025 conducted by the Union Public Service Commission.
On March 6, the UPSC announced that 958 candidates had been recommended for appointment to the Indian Administrative Service, Indian Police Service, Indian Foreign Service and other central services. Nearly 900,000 candidates had appeared for the preliminary examination, making the civil services exam one of the most competitive recruitment processes in the world.
The top ranks this year reflect a striking diversity of backgrounds, from medicine and engineering to economics, public policy and music. Among them are Anuj Agnihotri (AIR 1), Rajeshwari Suve M (AIR 2), Akansh Dhull (AIR 3), Zinnia Aurora (AIR 6) and AR Rajah Mohaideen (AIR 7), candidates whose journeys illustrate how different paths often converge at the same exam.
But behind the rank list lie personal stories shaped by ambition, persistence and sometimes unexpected turns.
Anuj Agnihotri: The AIIMS doctor who secured AIR 1
Rawatbhata, Rajasthan • MBBS, AIIMS Jodhpur • Optional: Medical Science
Anuj Agnihotri, who secured All India Rank 1, comes from Rawatbhata in Rajasthan’s Chittorgarh district, a township built around the Rajasthan Atomic Power Station, where his father works.
He completed his MBBS from AIIMS Jodhpur in 2023, one of India’s most competitive medical institutions. During his internship year, he began preparing for the civil services examination.
Agnihotri had already cleared the exam once before. In 2023, he secured a rank that placed him in the Delhi, Andaman and Nicobar Islands Civil Service (DANICS), where he was serving as a probationary Sub-Divisional Magistrate in Delhi.
His AIR 1 in 2025 came in his third attempt, improving significantly from his earlier result.
Family members said his preparation relied largely on self-study and a disciplined routine rather than coaching. He focused heavily on revision and structured preparation while continuing his responsibilities as a civil servant.
He chose Medical Science as his optional subject, drawing on his academic background as a doctor. “He has never consulted with any coaching centre. It is all about his own hard work and dedication,” his father said after the results were declared.
Agnihotri’s journey reflects a path increasingly seen among medical graduates who move from clinical careers toward public administration.
Zinnia Aurora: From World Bank professional to AIR 6
Rohtak, Haryana • Hindu College & St. Stephen’s College, Delhi • Optional: Political Science and International Relations
Zinnia Aurora, who secured AIR 6, represents another unusual trajectory among this year’s top rankers. Born in Rohtak and educated in Delhi, Aurora studied Economics and Political Science at Hindu College and St. Stephen’s College, both part of the University of Delhi.
Before preparing full-time for the civil services examination, she worked in policy and development roles that included engagements with international organisations and private sector leadership programmes.
Aurora had already cleared the civil services examination in 2024 with AIR 156 and was allotted the Indian Police Service (IPS). While undergoing training, she chose to reappear for the examination, aiming to significantly improve her rank.
In earlier media interactions, Aurora indicated that each attempt at the examination helped refine her preparation strategy and deepen her understanding of the vast UPSC syllabus.
Her improvement from AIR 156 to AIR 6 in a single year is among the most dramatic rank jumps in the 2025 results.
Her optional subject was Political Science and International Relations, which aligns closely with her academic background and professional experience in public policy and global development.
Aurora has also indicated that her long-term aspiration is to join the Indian Foreign Service, reflecting her interest in international diplomacy and policy.
AR Rajah Mohaideen: The doctor-musician who secured AIR 7
Chengalpattu, Tamil Nadu • MBBS, Rajah Muthiah Medical College • Optional: Anthropology
Among the most distinctive profiles in the UPSC top ranks this year is A R Rajah Mohaideen, who secured AIR 7. Mohaideen, 25, is an MBBS graduate from Rajah Muthiah Medical College in Tamil Nadu. Beyond medicine, he is also a trained Carnatic classical musician and holds both a Guinness World Record and a Limca National Record as part of the largest keyboard ensemble.
He has also received the Padmashri Seerkazhi Govindarajan Prize for Excellence in Fine Arts, recognising his contributions to classical music.Despite this diverse set of achievements, Mohaideen has often described himself as an average student during his early school years, recalling that he was usually ranked third or fourth in class.
His decision to pursue the civil services was shaped largely by experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. Working in hospitals during that period, he witnessed how administrative decisions affected the functioning of healthcare systems, supply chains and institutional responses to crises.
In earlier interactions, Mohaideen said the experience convinced him that governance decisions made outside hospitals often had a profound impact on outcomes within them.
His optional subject was Anthropology, a choice he felt allowed him to explore broader social and cultural dimensions relevant to governance.
What the UPSC Rank List Reveals
While individual stories attract attention every year, the broader rank list often reveals deeper patterns about the changing profile of civil services aspirants.
The 2025 results include candidates from engineering, medicine, humanities, law and commerce, reflecting the wide educational diversity that now characterises the examination.
Among the top ranks this year:
Rajeshwari Suve M, who secured AIR 2, is the highest-ranked woman candidate.
Akansh Dhull, who secured AIR 3 at the age of 22, improved dramatically across attempts after earlier securing lower ranks.
Pakshal Secretry (AIR 8) comes from a tribal-dominated region of Madhya Pradesh’s Dhar district.
These stories illustrate how the civil services examination continues to draw aspirants from a wide range of social, educational and geographic backgrounds.
UPSC CSE 2025: A Snapshot
Results declared: March 6, 2026
Candidates recommended: 958
Total marks: 2,025
Top ranks:
AIR 1 – Anuj Agnihotri
AIR 2 – Rajeshwari Suve M
AIR 3 – Akansh Dhull
AIR 6 – Zinnia Aurora
AIR 7 – A R Rajah Mohaideen
Women in top 25: 11 candidates
Beyond the Rank List
The civil services examination is often viewed purely as a competition defined by numbers — ranks, marks and attempts.
But each year the results also tell quieter stories about ambition, persistence and the different routes through which young Indians arrive at public service.
From a nuclear township in Rajasthan to policy offices in Delhi and music halls in Chennai, the journeys of this year’s toppers show how varied those paths can be.
And every year, when the results are announced, those paths briefly intersect in a single list released by the Union Public Service Commission — before diverging again into careers in administration, policing, diplomacy and governance.>
