UPSC CSE 2025 Top 10 Rankers -Highlights
  • 12 March, 2026
Rank Roll Number Candidate Name Category Written Marks Interview Marks Final Marks
1 1131589 Anuj Agnihotri 867 204 1071
2 4000040 Rajeshwari Suve M OBC 865 202 1067
3 3512521 Akansh Dhull 864 193 1057
4 0834732 Raghav Jhunjhunwala OBC 847 195 1042
5 0409847 Ishan Bhatnagar 823 215 1038
6 6410067 Zinnia Aurora 822 215 1037
7 0818306 A R Rajah Mohaideen 834 201 1035
8 0843487 Pakshal Secretry EWS 837 198 1035
9 0831647 Astha Jain EWS 835 198 1033
10 1523945 Ujjwal Priyank 846 187 1033

Key Highlights of UPSC CSE 2025 Top Rankers

  • Top Rank Achievement: Anuj Agnihotri secured Rank 1 with a total of 1071 marks, reflecting exceptional performance in both written and interview stages.
  • Strong Written Performance: Most candidates in the top 10 scored above 820 marks in the written examination, indicating strong conceptual clarity and answer-writing skills.
  • High Interview Scores: Candidates like Ishan Bhatnagar and Zinnia Aurora achieved 215 marks in the personality test, among the highest interview scores in the top ranks.
  • Balanced Performance: Successful candidates maintained a strong balance between written examination performance and personality test scores.
  • Category Representation: The list includes candidates from General, OBC, and EWS categories, reflecting the diversity of the civil services selection process.

Understanding the UPSC CSE Marking Structure

The final merit list of the Civil Services Examination is based on marks obtained in the Mains Examination and the Personality Test.

  • Written Examination (Mains): Consists of nine papers, including essay, general studies, optional subjects, and qualifying language papers. Only the marks from seven papers count toward the final merit.
  • Personality Test: Conducted by a board of experts at the UPSC headquarters to assess candidates’ personality traits, administrative aptitude, and decision-making abilities.
  • Final Merit: The total marks out of 2025 (1750 for written + 275 for interview) determine the final rank.

What Makes the UPSC Top Rankers Successful

The success of the top candidates highlights several important preparation strategies:

  • Conceptual Clarity: Strong understanding of subjects such as polity, economy, geography, history, and ethics.
  • Effective Answer Writing: Structured answers with relevant examples and analytical depth.
  • Consistent Preparation: Long-term disciplined study combined with regular revision.
  • Mock Tests and Evaluation: Practicing previous year questions and participating in mock interviews.
  • Current Affairs Integration: Linking dynamic issues with static subjects to improve analytical responses.

Average Marks of UPSC CSE 2025 Top 10 Candidates

Using the marks of the top 10 candidates, the average performance at each stage of the examination can be calculated from the written examination marks, personality test marks, and the final combined score.

Examination Stage Marks Considered Total Marks of Top 10 Average Marks
Written Examination (Mains)

W_TOTAL

8440

844

Personality Test (Interview)

PT_MARKS

2008

200.8

Final Combined Score

F_TOTAL

10448

1044.8

Key Observations from the Average Marks

  • Written Examination Average: The top 10 candidates scored an average of 844 marks in the written examination, showing that high written performance is a major factor in securing top ranks.
  • Interview Average: The average personality test score is around 201 marks, indicating that most toppers scored between 190–215 marks in the interview.
  • Final Merit Average: The average final score of the top 10 candidates is approximately 1045 marks, which gives a realistic benchmark for aspirants aiming for a top rank.
  • Performance Balance: The data shows that top rankers maintain a balanced performance across both the written exam and interview, rather than relying on only one stage.

Quick Benchmark for Aspirants

  • Target 830–860 marks in Mains to stay competitive for top ranks.
  • Aim for 190–210 marks in the Interview to strengthen the final score.
  • A final score around 1040–1070 typically places candidates in the top 10 range.

UPSC Average Marks Trend (2020–2025)

Average Trend Analysis (2020–2025)

Examination Stage Approx Average Range
Written Examination (Mains) 830 – 900
Personality Test (Interview) 190 – 210
Final Merit Score 1040 – 1100

Key Trends Observed

  • Stable Final Score Range: For the last several years, the topper’s final score has remained roughly between 1040 and 1105, showing a consistent evaluation pattern.
  • Strong Mains Dominance: Most top candidates score around 850–900 marks in the written exam, which contributes the majority of the final merit.
  • Interview Score Consistency: Top candidates usually score 190–210 in the personality test, indicating a relatively narrow variation in interview marks.
  • Balanced Performance: Candidates who secure both strong written marks and stable interview scores tend to reach the top ranks.

Approximate Average of Top Scores (2020–2025)

Stage Average Score
Written (Mains) ~860
Interview ~200
Final Score ~1080

Interpretation for Aspirants

  • To reach the top 10, aspirants usually need 850+ in Mains.
  • A 190–210 interview score significantly strengthens the final rank.
  • The safe benchmark for top ranks is around 1050–1100 total marks.

Conclusion

The UPSC CSE 2025 Top 10 Rankers represent the highest level of dedication and intellectual capability among civil services aspirants. Their achievements inspire thousands of candidates preparing for future attempts at the Civil Services Examination.

For aspirants, the journey of these toppers demonstrates that strategic preparation, consistent effort, and clarity of purpose are key to succeeding in one of India’s toughest examinations.