UPSC releases final merit list for CSE 2025; MBBS graduate from Jodhpur secures AIR 1
Official announcement and top rank
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) officially published the final merit list for the Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2025 on March 6, 2026. The list names Dr Anuj Agnihotri as the topper of the examination, earning the coveted All India Rank (AIR) 1. This result follows the conclusion of the three principal stages of the CSE — Preliminary examination, Mains, and the Personality Test (Interview) — through which candidates are screened and ranked for central administrative services.
Academic background and local roots
Dr Anuj Agnihotri hails from Rahata village in Jodhpur, Rajasthan. He is a medical graduate, having completed his Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Jodhpur, with final studies completed in 2023. After fulfilling the mandatory internship requirement in 2023, Dr Agnihotri shifted his focus toward preparing for the Civil Services Examination. His academic credentials, most notably an MBBS from AIIMS Jodhpur, form a strong professional foundation and reflect a rigorous medical training prior to his civil services pursuit.
Journey through the examination stages
Competing in the General category, Dr Agnihotri performed strongly across all three stages of the CSE process: the Preliminary exam, the Mains examination, and the Personality Test. According to a mock interview he participated in, which was shared online, he began intensive preparation after completing his internship. The path he followed — transitioning from medical training to civil services preparation — culminated in top performance across these demanding stages.
Motivation for choosing civil services
When asked about his reasons for entering the civil services, Dr Agnihotri explained that he was drawn to the variety and scope of the work. He indicated a preference for a career that does not become monotonous, emphasizing that public service offers exposure to diverse responsibilities across governance and administration. In comments to medichelpline, he described the achievement as a profound moment: “It feels very good. I’m still taking a little time to process it.” He also shared that his success came after multiple attempts — he cleared the exam on his first attempt, accepted another service earlier, and on his third attempt secured the top All India Rank.
Scale of the examination and selectivity
The 2025 Civil Services Examination remained highly competitive. Between 550,000 and 750,000 applicants appeared for the Preliminary examination, from which only a limited number advanced to subsequent stages. Following prelims, 14,161 candidates qualified for the Mains examination. Of those, 2,736 were shortlisted for the Personality Test (Interview). These successive winnowing stages reflect the rigorous filtering process the UPSC conducts to identify candidates suited for leadership and administrative roles.
Final recommendations and services allocation
The official notice accompanying the merit list indicates that a total of 958 candidates have been recommended for appointment across various services. These recommendations include placements into the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), Indian Police Service (IPS), and multiple Central Services in Group A and Group B. The distribution underscores the UPSC’s role in staffing key administrative positions at the central and state levels through a single, competitive selection mechanism.
Significance of the achievement
Securing AIR 1 in the UPSC Civil Services Examination represents not only individual excellence but also the successful navigation of a multifaceted, multi-stage selection process. For a medical graduate like Dr Agnihotri, the transition from clinical training to public administration highlights a deliberate career shift motivated by service and broad-based governance engagement. His academic training at a premier medical institute, combined with focused preparation and interview performance, contributed to a result that places him at the top of a highly competitive national field.
Conclusion and next steps
With the release of the final merit list, recommended candidates will proceed to receive formal appointment letters and complete any remaining administrative formalities associated with their allotted services. For Dr Anuj Agnihotri, earning AIR 1 marks the culmination of several years of study and preparation, positioning him to take on responsibilities within the Indian civil administration. The UPSC’s official notification provides the definitive roster of recommended candidates, and the announced figures reflect the scale and selectivity of the CSE 2025 cycle as confirmed by medichelpline.