AIIMS Jodhpur MBBS graduate Dr Anuj Agnihotri tops UPSC CSE 2025, secures AIR 1

Dr Anuj Agnihotri, from Rahata village in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, is a MBBS graduate from the renowned All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Jodhpur, and completed his studies there in 2023. 

Competing in the General category, Dr Agnihotri performed exceptionally well in all three tough stages of the exam – Prelims, Mains and Personality Test (Interview).

He pursued Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) at All India Institute of Medical Sciences Jodhpur (AIIMS Jodhpur). After completing his compulsory internship in 2023, he began preparing for the Civil Services Examination, according to a mock interview shared on a YouTube channel.

Dr Agnihotri said one of the reasons he chose civil services was the nature of the work. He said he wanted to pursue a career that was not monotonous. According to him, civil services offer a range of responsibilities and exposure to different sectors of governance, adds TOI report.

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Speaking to news agency PTI, “It feels very good. I’m still taking a little time to process it.” He also mentioned how he had cleared his first attempt, but got another service and in his third attempt, he secured AIR (all India rank) 1.

5.5 lakh to 7.5 lakh applicants appeared for the examination; only 14,161 qualified for mains, and 2,736 were shortlisted for the interview. After these preliminary qualifying rounds and according to the official notice, a total of 958 candidates have been recommended for appointment in varied streams, viz., to the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), Indian Police Service (IPS) and various Central Services in Group A and Group B.