The journey from “aspirant” to “officer” is now officially documented in numbers. On Wednesday, March 11, 2026, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) published the granular performance data of the 958 individuals recommended for India’s premier civil services.
The data confirms that the “50% rule” holds firm in the world’s toughest exam—even the nation’s topper, Anuj Agnihotri, secured his position with a total percentage of 52.88%. The release of these marks allows the thousands of unsuccessful candidates to compare their scores against the final cut-offs and refine their strategy for the 2026 attempt.
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The Top 5: Written vs. Interview Breakdown
The final merit is a sum of the Written Mains (1750 marks) and the Personality Test (275 marks), totaling 2025 marks.
| Rank | Name | Written (Mains) | Interview | Final Total | Percentage |
| 1 | Anuj Agnihotri | 867 | 204 | 1,071 | 52.88% |
| 2 | Rajeshwari Suve M | 865 | 202 | 1,067 | 52.69% |
| 3 | Akansh Dhull | 864 | 193 | 1,057 | 52.19% |
| 4 | Raghav Jhunjhunwala | 847 | 195 | 1,042 | 51.45% |
| 5 | Ishan Bhatnagar | 823 | 215 | 1,038 | 51.25% |
The Topper’s Journey: From AIIMS to IAS
AIR 1 Anuj Agnihotri continues the trend of medical and engineering graduates dominating the top spots.
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Academic Background: A graduate of AIIMS Jodhpur, Agnihotri’s transition to the IAS reflects the high success rate of medical professionals in the 2025 cycle.
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Consistency: With a high Mains score of 867, he maintained a lead that even a slightly lower interview score wouldn’t have jeopardized.
Success Demographics: Men vs. Women
The 2025 recommendation list shows a healthy participation of women in the higher echelons of the bureaucracy.
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Total Recommended: 958
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Men: 659
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Women: 299 (approx. 31% of the total list)
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Top Presence: Rajeshwari Suve M leads the female candidates with a stellar AIR 2.
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The 2025 Funnel: Statistics of the Journey
The sheer scale of the elimination process is evident in the numbers:
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Registered: 9,37,876
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Appeared (Prelims): 5,76,793
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Qualified for Mains: 14,161
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Qualified for Interview: 2,736
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Final Selection: 958
Reality Check
The difference between Rank 1 and Rank 2 is just 4 marks. Still, in the UPSC merit list, those 4 marks can be the difference between getting your home cadre or being allotted a state thousands of kilometers away. Therefore, while 1,071 is the gold standard, the “Interview Ace” Ishan Bhatnagar (215 marks) proves that a stellar personality test can pull you into the Top 5 even if your written score (823) is significantly lower than the topper’s.
The Loopholes
The Commission says the merit is “Final.” In fact, this is a “Reserve List Loophole”—the 958 candidates are only the first batch. Every year, UPSC maintains a consolidated reserve list (usually around 100-150 names) to fill vacancies if candidates from the main list do not join or are disqualified during medical/background checks. Therefore, if you missed the 958-mark by a whisker, you might still get a call later this year. Still, the “Optional Subject Gap” remains; the marks released today do not yet show the optional-subject-wise scaling, which often dictates who enters the Top 100.
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What This Means for You
If you are an aspirant for 2026, analyze Ishan Bhatnagar’s 215-mark interview. First, realize that the Personality Test is the highest “ROI” (Return on Investment) stage—it’s only 30 minutes but carries 275 marks. Then, if you are a science or law student (like AIR 1 and AIR 5), understand that your technical background is a significant asset if you can bridge it with administrative logic.
Finally, understand that the scorecards for non-qualified candidates are coming next. You should log in to upsc.gov.in by March 20 to see your specific breakdown in GS Papers and Optional. Before you change your Optional subject for 2026, check if your score was actually “low” or if it was just a case of an exceptionally high cut-off this year.
What’s Next
The Detailed Application Form (DAF) for the 2025 reserve list will be out by early April. Then, look for the Cadre Allotment List for the IAS and IPS, which usually follows within 60 days. Finally, expect the 2026 Prelims Admit Cards to be issued by early May for the upcoming exam cycle.
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