Anuj Agnihotri is an Indian doctor-turned-civil servant who made national headlines on March 6, 2026, after securing All India Rank 1 (AIR 1) in the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2025, one of the most competitive and prestigious examinations in the world. His story, from a small town in Rajasthan to the very top of India’s civil services ladder, has quickly become one of the most inspiring success narratives of 2026.
Personal Background and Early Life
Anuj Agnihotri hails from Rajasthan and spent much of his early life in Rawatbhata, a town known for its nuclear power facilities. Specifically, Rawatbhata is located in Rajasthan’s Chittorgarh district, and is home to the Rajasthan Atomic Power Station. It is a township built around scientific institutions, disciplined civic life, and a deep culture of education, an environment that clearly shaped Anuj’s worldview and academic ambitions from an early age.
From an early age, he showed strong academic potential and dedication toward his studies. He completed his 10th standard from Atomic Energy Central School, where he developed a solid academic foundation. Later, he pursued his 12th standard from M.B. Public Senior Secondary School in Kota, a city widely known for its competitive academic environment.
Education
After excelling through his schooling years, Anuj set his sights on medicine. He pursued Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences Jodhpur (AIIMS Jodhpur), completing his studies there in 2023. AIIMS Jodhpur is one of India’s premier medical institutions, and graduating from there placed Anuj among the country’s most highly trained medical professionals.
Despite having a well-paved path in medicine ahead of him, Anuj chose to redirect his ambitions toward public service, a decision that would eventually lead him to the top of India’s civil services pyramid.
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Career
Anuj Agnihotri’s professional life took a significant turn after completing his MBBS. Rather than settling into a medical career, he began preparing for the UPSC Civil Services Examination, widely regarded as one of the toughest competitive exams not just in India, but in the world.
- DANICS Service: After finishing his studies at AIIMS Jodhpur, he began pursuing his career in DANICS, a premier Group B (Gazetted) civil service in India, primarily responsible for administrative tasks in the National Capital Territory of Delhi and other Union Territories.
- First UPSC Attempt (2023): In his first attempt in 2023, he was allotted the Delhi, Andaman and Nicobar Islands Civil Services (DANICS) and was appointed as a Sub-Divisional Magistrate in Delhi, joining the service in December 2024.
- Second Attempt: In his second attempt, Agnihotri cleared the UPSC Mains, but could not make it through the interview stage. Rather than being discouraged, he treated the setback as a learning curve and prepared even more rigorously for his next attempt.
- Third Attempt — AIR 1: The UPSC Topper AIR 1 2025 is Anuj Agnihotri, who obtained the first rank in the Civil Services Examination 2025. The result was declared by the Union Public Service Commission on 6th March, 2026.
UPSC Journey and Preparation Strategy
Anuj’s preparation approach set him apart in a field where millions compete. His father revealed to the media that Anuj never consulted with any coaching centre, it was all his own hard work and dedication, and he used to study for around 13 hours daily.
Apart from academics, Anuj is known to be interested in sports and has often spoken about drawing inspiration from Indian sports icons such as cricketer Virat Kohli and hockey legend PR Sreejesh, whose dedication and resilience motivated him in his own journey of preparation and self-improvement.
Speaking after the announcement of the UPSC results, Agnihotri said that success feels easier now after the long journey of preparation. “If I hadn’t succeeded this time, I would have prepared for the next attempt. The UPSC journey has many ups and downs, but after succeeding today, it feels much easier,” he added.
He also noted that he made it a habit to learn from conversations with different people during his preparation, drawing on diverse perspectives to strengthen his answers and sharpen his analytical thinking.
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Anuj Agnihotri Age
As per media reports, the age of UPSC Topper Anuj Agnihotri is between 28 to 30 years. Since he completed MBBS in 2023, it is evident that Anuj Agnihotri was born between 1997 and 1999. His exact date of birth has not been publicly confirmed as of the time of this post.
Anuj Agnihotri UPSC
Anuj Agnihotri secured All India Rank 1 in the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2025, with the result declared on 6th March 2026. A total of 958 candidates were recommended that year against 1,087 vacancies. He was followed by AIR 2 Rajeshwari Suve M, AIR 3 Akansh Dhull, AIR 4 Raghav Jhunjhunwala, and AIR 5 Ishan Bhatnagar.
Anuj Agnihotri Optional Subject
Anuj Agnihotri chose Medical Science as his optional subject for the UPSC Mains examination. Since he completed his MBBS from AIIMS Jodhpur, Medical Science was a natural choice that matched his academic background. This strategic alignment between his professional training and optional subject is widely believed to have significantly contributed to his top-rank performance.
Anuj Agnihotri Family
Expressing pride in his son’s achievement, Agnihotri’s father said, “It is Anuj’s hard work and the blessings of the entire family. This is a matter of great pride for us.” His mother, for her part, shared that she remained focused on taking care of his diet and overall well-being throughout his years of preparation, a quiet but essential pillar of his success.
For Rawatbhata, the moment carries symbolic meaning. A town known for producing power plants has now produced a civil servant who will help shape national policy.
Anuj Agnihotri’s journey, from a nuclear township in Rajasthan to the top of India’s most prestigious examination, stands as a powerful testament to what disciplined, self-driven preparation can achieve. With his medical background, administrative experience in DANICS, and an unshakeable resolve, India’s newest IAS topper is poised to bring a uniquely informed perspective to the country’s public service.
To know more about Anuj Agnihotri and who he really is, see The Times of India’s post on Who is Anuj Agnihotri, the UPSC CSE 2025 Topper?
