Who Is Anuj Agnihotri? The Rajasthan Doctor Who Topped UPSC Civil Services 2025

Last Updated:March 06, 2026, 4:17 PM IST

UPSC Topper 2025: Anuj Agnihotri from Rawatbhata, Rajasthan, secured All India Rank 1 in the UPSC 2025.

Anuj Agnihotri hails from Rawatbhata in Rajasthan.

UPSC Topper 2025: The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) declared the final results of the Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2025, with Anuj Agnihotri- a 26-year-old doctor from Rajasthan’s small town of Rawatbhata- claiming All India Rank 1, the most coveted position in India’s most competitive exam.

A Small-Town Boy With A Big Dream

Anuj Agnihotri grew up in Rawatbhata, a town best known for its nuclear power plant- where his father works. His mother is a homemaker. Despite modest beginnings, he moved to Jodhpur for higher education and earned his MBBS from AIIMS in 2023, before setting his sights on the civil services.

Read more: UPSC Civil Services Final Result 2025 Released, Here’s How To Download Result PDF

Opting for Medical Science as his optional subject- a natural extension of his academic background- Anuj Agnihotri attempted the UPSC examination three times before breaking through to the top. In his first attempt, he had already secured a berth in DANICS (the Delhi, Andaman and Nicobar Islands Civil Service), a Group-B Central Civil Service, where he is currently undergoing training.

‘Luck Was The Major Factor’

Despite the years of relentless preparation, Anuj Agnihotri remained humble when speaking to NDTV after his historic achievement.

“I consider luck as the major factor behind my success,” he said. His preparation, however, tells a different story. Relying largely on online coaching, he supplemented his interview readiness with guidance from Ensure IAS in Delhi. His mentor there, Sachin Jain- an Indian Revenue Service officer turned coach- saw something special in him early on.

Read more: UPSC Civil Services 2025 Final Result Declared: Anuj Agnihotri Tops, 958 Candidates Qualify

“Anuj was always willing to learn, and our experience with our own civil services interviews helped him a lot,” Jain said.

Three Attempts, One Historic Result

The road to Rank 1 was neither short nor simple. Anuj Agnihotri sat for the written Mains examination in August 2025 and faced the personality interview round in February 2026, before the final merit list was published this week. UPSC’s Civil Services Examination is universally regarded as one of the toughest tests of intellect, stamina and character in the country.

Read More