Complete List of UPSC Toppers (1972-2023)

One of the most prestigious services in India, Civil Services, is the foremost priority to get into the ambit of government machinery. Every year, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts the examination on an All-India basis. Around 5 lakh candidates appear for the examination every year, and only around 1000 of them make it to the final tally. At least 100 toppers are selected for the IAS. The remaining candidates join other services. Here’s a list of UPSC Toppers since 1972:

Ishita Kishore (2022)

• Marks: 1094 out of 2025
• Attempt: Third
• Optional: Political Science and International Relations (PSIR)

A native of Patna, Bihar, Ishita Kishore holds a bachelor’s degree in commerce with Economics Honours from Shri Ram College of Commerce, Delhi University. Following her graduation, Ishita worked as an intern at Housing And Urban Development Corporation Limited and GAIL (India) Ltd. In 2017, she joined Ernest & Young (EY) as a Risk Analyst, where she worked for around two years. Later, she gave up her job to prepare for the UPSC Civil Services examination. Although Ishita failed to qualify in the prelims on her first two attempts, she managed to secure AIR 1 on her third attempt.

Shruti Sharma (2021)

• Marks: 1105 out of 2025
• Attempt: Second
• Optional: History

Shruti Sharma belongs to Bijnor, Uttar Pradesh. She holds a bachelor’s degree in History from St Stephen’s College, Delhi, and a master’s degree in Sociology from Delhi School of Economics, New Delhi. She secured AIR 1 in the UPSC CSE examination on her second attempt. She attributes her success in the UPSC examination to Jamia Millia Islamia Residential Coaching Academy (RCA), where she prepared for the exam.

Shubham Kumar (2020)

• Marks: 1054 out of 2025
• Attempt: Third
• Optional: Anthropology

Shubham Kumar belongs to Katihar District, Bihar. He did his primary schooling at a school in his village. In 2012, he passed the high school examination from Vidya Vihar Residential School, Parora, Purnia, Bihar. Later, he attended Chinmaya Vidyalaya Bokaro, Jharkhand for his 11th and 12th standard. He pursued a B.Tech in Civil Engineering at IIT Bombay. In May 2017, he joined Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, as a summer research intern. In 2018, he made his first attempt in the Union Public Service Commission Civil Services Examination, but he could not clear the exam. In 2019, he again appeared for the Union Public Service Commission Civil Services Examination and got 290th rank. He was then selected in the Indian Defence Accounts Service (IDAS) and was training at the National Academy of Defence Financial Management Institute (NADFM), Pune when he appeared for the third time for the UPSC CSE in 2020 and became the topper.

Pradeep Singh (2019)

• Marks: 1072 out of 2025
• Attempt: Fourth
• Optional: Public Administration

Pradeep Singh belongs to Haryana. He attended a local government school in his village till class 7th, thereafter, he went to Shambhu Dayal Modern School in Sonipat and studied there till class 12th. Later, he graduated with a Bachelor of Engineering (Computer Science) degree from Deenbandhu Chhotu Ram University of Science And Technology (DCRUST), Murthal in 2012. In 2015, he cleared the SSC CGL examination and was recruited as an income tax officer. In 2018, he cracked the UPSC Civil Service examination, securing All India Rank 260, and was recruited as an IRS officer. In 2019, he gave his fourth attempt and secured AIR 1 in the UPSC CSE examination.

Kanishak Kataria (2018)

• Marks: 1121 out of 2025
• Attempt: First
• Optional: Mathematics

Kanishak Kataria belongs to Jaipur, Rajasthan. He holds a B.Tech (Computer Science and Engineering) degree from IIT Bombay (2010-2014). He did his schooling at St. Paul’s Sr. Sec. School, Kota, Rajasthan. Earlier, he worked in a multinational company (Samsung) as a data scientist in South Korea and then as a data analyst in a startup company in Bangalore but he quit his job in 2017 to prepare for civil services that he cleared in his first attempt.

Anudeep Durishetty (2017)

• Marks: 1126/2025
• Attempt: 5th
• Optional: Anthropology

Anudeep Durishetty completed her B. Tech in Civil Engineering from the prestigious Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS), Pilani. After graduation, he joined ‘Google India’ and started preparing for Civil services. He also worked as Assistant Commissioner (P) at Indian Revenue Service and was posted in Hyderabad. In his fifth attempt, he topped the exam with AIR 1 in 2017.

Nandini K R (2016)

• Marks: 1120/2025
• Attempt: Fourth
• Optional: Kannada Literature

Nandini K R completed her B. Tech in Civil Engineering from MS Ramaiah Institute of Technology, Bangalore. After graduation, she started preparing for the Civil services. In her second attempt, she cleared the exam with AIR 849 in 2014. She was allotted Indian Revenue Services. But due to her strong desire of becoming an IAS, she took a leave from her job and dedicated one full year to prepare for the examination, and finally, she became an IAS officer in her 4th attempt in 2016.

Tina Dabi (2015)

• Marks: 1063/2025
• Attempt: First
• Optional: Political Science

Tina Dabi is one of the youngest candidates to clear the Civil Services exam and that too in her first attempt. Unlike most other students, she chose humanities over science and started her preparation during her school days. She did her graduation from Sri Ram College of Commerce, New Delhi. She was also the CBSE topper and College topper.

Ira Singhal (2014)

• Marks: 1082/ 2025
• Attempt: 4th
• Optional: Geography

Ira Singhal’s journey to becoming an IAS officer has been an extraordinary one. She cleared the UPSC exam in 2010 but was denied entry into the Indian Revenue Services (IRS) as she suffers from a condition called Scoliosis, owing to which she has difficulty in moving her arms. But despite her rejection on medical grounds, she fought her case at the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) and was finally admitted into the IRS in 2014. According to Ira, she wants to do something for the benefit of differently-abled people. She had also done an MBA in Marketing & Finance from Faculty and Management Studies, Delhi.

Gaurav Aggarwal (2017)

 

• Marks: 975/2025
• Attempt: Second
• Optional: Economics

Gaurav left his lucrative career in Investment Banking in Hong Kong to work for the service of the nation. He is an IIT Delhi and IIM Lucknow alumni. In his first attempt, he was allotted the Indian Police Service with AIR 244. In a speech, Gaurav said that working as an IAS officer in a remote area after living a luxurious life is a difficult task; however, when you solve the problems of people, it gives you immense satisfaction.

Haritha V Kumar (2012)

• Marks: 1193/2300
• Attempt: Fourth
• Optional: Economics and Malayalam

Haritha completed her Engineering in Electronics and Communication from the Government Engineering College, Barton Hill in the year 2007. Early in her childhood, she decided to become an IAS officer. In her second attempt, she got 179th rank and was allotted the Indian Police Service. But she chose Indian Revenue Services. She got 294th rank in her 3rd attempt. After that, she took a break of one year from services to prepare for the IAS and ended up getting 1st Rank in her fourth attempt.

Dr. Shena Aggarwal (2011)

• Marks: 1338/2300
• Attempt: Third
• Optional Subjects: Medical Science and Psychology

Shena holds an MBBS degree from AIIMS. She was also a topper of CBSE PMT, 2004. Although becoming an IAS officer was her childhood dream, she became stern about it during her internship at MBBS in a rural area. In her second attempt, Shena was able to secure 305th rank and was given Indian Revenue Services, and it was the year 2011 when she finally became an IAS officer with AIR 1.

S. Divyadharsini (2010)

• Marks: 1334/2300
• Attempt: 2nd
• Optional: Law and Public Administration

Divyadharshini was a law graduate. She graduated with BA BL (Hons) from the School of Excellence in Law College, Tamilnadu. In her 1st attempt, she could not qualify for the prelims. Meanwhile, she joined SBI in the clerical cadre. Becoming an IAS officer was her sole dream, and she was ready to exhaust all her attempts to fulfill that dream.

Shah Faesal (2009)

• Marks: 1361/2300
• Attempt: First
• Optional Subjects: Public Administration and Urdu

Shah Faesal is a doctor who became the first candidate to be selected for the IAS from Kashmir. His father was a teacher who was killed by terrorists. After topping the UPSC exam, Faesal became a role model for Kashmiri youth. He completed his MBBS from Sher-i-Kashmir Medical College, Srinagar. Shah Faesal is very active on social media and tries to connect with Kashmiri youth to guide them in the right direction. He is known to have a love for poetry.

Shubhra Saxena (2008)

• Marks: 1371/2300
• Attempt: Second
• Optional Subjects: Public Administration and Psychology

Shubhra is a Software Engineer, and before her career in the civil services, she worked at the Computer Sciences Corporation (CSC) in Noida. She is an alumnus of IIT Roorkee. She could not clear the exam on her first attempt and managed to get 1st rank on her 2nd attempt. According to Shubhra, she was not satisfied with her job as a Software Engineer and wanted to do something for the betterment of society, so she chose to quit the job for the preparation of civil services.

Apada Karthik (2007)

• Marks: 1458/2300
• Attempt: Third
• Optional: Zoology and Psychology

Adapa Karthik is a doctor, and to serve the nation, he even rejected scholarships from Harvard and Cambridge in the service. Even after getting into civil services, he organizes health camps for needy people. In his previous two attempts, he was selected for the IPS.

Mutyalaraju Revu (2006)

• Attempt: Third
• Optional Subjects: Electrical Engineering and Maths

Mutylalaraju Revu completed his B. Tech from the National Institute of Technology, Warangal, and his Masters in Engineering (ME) in Signal Processing from the Indian Institute of Sciences, Bangalore. He also cleared GATE and IES and worked as the Railways Engineer. In his first attempt, he was selected for the IPS.

Mona Pruthi (2005)

• Attempt: Third
• Optional Subjects: English Literature and Sociology

Mona is an Economics graduate from Delhi University’s Shri Ram College of Commerce and a postgraduate from the Delhi School of Economics. She worked with American Express. However, after working there for one year, she quit the job to prepare for the examination. In her previous attempt, she was selected for Indian Revenue Services.

S. Nagarajan (2004)

• Marks: 1247/2300
• Attempt: Fourth
• Optional Subjects: Sociology and Geography

Nagarajan did his B.Tech in Electrical and Electronics Engineering at BITS, Pilani. After completing graduation, he started preparing for the civil services. He managed to reach till interview stage in his first attempt. In his second attempt, he was allotted the Indian Railway Traffic Services.

Roopa Mishra (2003)

• Attempt: First
• Optional Subjects: Public Administration and Psychology

Roopa Mishra studied science up to plus-two level, but then she switched to Commerce. She completed her MBA from Utkal University. She takes inspiration from the work of farmers, soldiers, and homemakers and wants to pay them back by serving them as an IAS officer.

Ankur Garg (2002)

• Attempt: First
• Optional Subjects: Physics and Chemistry

Ankur Garg is an Electrical Engineering graduate from IIT, Delhi. After graduation, he was offered a hefty pay package by many MNCs, but he rejected those offers. Ankur belongs to a family of doctors, but he wanted to become an IAS officer since class 3rd. During his engineering, he also had a chance to do an internship in France and Switzerland.

Alok Ranjan Jha (2001)

• Attempt: Third
• Optional Subjects: Sociology and Political Science

Alok studied at the Hindu College, Delhi. Then he pursued M.Phil from the Jawahar Lal Nehru University. In his previous attempt, he narrowly missed the final cut-off by 5 marks. When he finally cleared the exam in 2001, he chose IFS over IAS.

Vijayalakshmi Bidari (2000)

• Attempt: Second
• Optional Subjects: Political Science and Kannada Literature

Vijayalakshmi Bidari belongs to a family of civil servants. Her father, brother, husband, and sister-in-law are all in the civil services. She completed her Computer Engineering at RV College of Engineering. After B. Tech, she was offered a job by BFL Software and HPCL Calcutta. In her first attempt, she secured 107th rank.

Sorabh Babu (1999)

• Attempt: First
• Optional Subjects: Maths and Mechanical Engineering

Sorabh did his B. Tech in Mechanical Engineering from a University in Uttar Pradesh. He topped the UPSC exam on his first attempt.

Bhawna Garg (1998)

• Attempt: First
• Optional Subjects: Maths and Chemistry

Bhawna is an IIT Kanpur graduate in Chemical Engineering. She was the first woman to secure the first rank in the UPSC Exam. During her training at LBSNAA, she was awarded a gold medal for best performance in extra-curricular activities. She belongs to Punjab.

Devesh Kumar (1997)

• Marks: 1462/2300
• Optional Subjects: Chemistry and Geography

Devesh Kumar is an IAS officer from Bihar. He did his graduation and master’s in Chemical Engineering from IIT Kanpur. He also pursued a master’s degree in Public Administration at Syracuse University, Maxwell School (2014-2015). After clearing the UPSC exam, he was given the Himachal Pradesh cadre.

Sunil Kumar Barnwal (1996)

• Marks: 1417/2300
• Optional Subjects: Maths and Physics

Sunil belongs to a very humble family from Bihar. He left his home after the 10th standard, and with hard work, he was able to get admission into Petroleum Engineering at ISM, Dhanbad. He used to study for civil services during his vacations in college. He also excelled in his academics and ended up getting the Gold medal. But engineering was just his backup plan as he always wanted to be an IAS officer. After completing graduation, he joined GAIL and side by side kept preparing for the civil services. He could not succeed in his first attempt, but he secured 1st rank in the second attempt.

Iqbal Dhaliwal (1995)

• Marks: 1446/2300
• Attempt: Second
• Optional Subjects: Economics and Public Administration

Iqbal Dhaliwal completed his B.A. (Honors) in Economics from Sri Venkateswara College, Delhi University in 1992, and M.A. in Economics from the Delhi School of Economics in 1994; he secured the first rank in the college. In his first attempt, he secured 229th rank. To become an IAS officer, he again appeared for the exam.

Ashutosh Jindal (1994)

• Attempt: First

Ashutosh belongs to Punjab and is a 1995 Batch IAS officer of Manipur Tripura cadre. He was a topper in Electronics and Communication Engineering at Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology, Patiala.

Srivatsa Krishna (1993)

Srivatsa Krishna’s first posting was as an SDM in Delhi. Later, he was picked up by Chandrababu Naidu in his team of bureaucrats to make Hyderabad an IT hub. Srivatsa’s role in the development of Hyderabad is applaudable. After working in Hyderabad, he joined Harvard Business School for MBA, and on completion of his course, he went on to work at World Bank. In 2003, World Economic Forum at Davos bestowed on him the prestigious “Global Leader for Tomorrow” Award.

Anurag Srivastava (1992)

• Attempt: First

Anurag belongs to Uttar Pradesh and has a B.Tech degree in Civil Engineering from IIT, Kanpur. Becoming an IAS officer was his childhood dream.

Raju Narayana Swamy (1991)

Raju joined the services at the age of 23. He belongs to Kerala. He obtained his engineering degree in Computer Science from IIT, Madras. He was the State topper in the 10th standard. Later, he cleared the GATE exam. Raju is known for his crusade against corruption.

V. V. Lakshminarayana (1990)

Lakshminarayana hails from Andhra Pradesh and is an alumnus of NIT, Warangal, and IIT, Madras. Laxmi joined the services at the age of 25. He is one of the few aspirants who chose IPS over IAS. He is known for his stint as SP of Nanded and in the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorist Squad.

Shashi Prakash Goyal (1989)

Shashi belongs to the Uttar Pradesh cadre. His qualifications include graduation in Mathematics, Physics, and Statistics.

Prashant Kumar (1988)

Prashant Kumar is a native of Bihar and is an IAS officer of the West Bengal cadre. He was the district magistrate of North Dinajpur in the 1990s but later went to Delhi on deputation in the Union ministry of petroleum and natural gas.

Amir Subhani (1987)

Amir Subhani is a Bihar cadre IAS officer. He has served as the Principal Secretary of the Home Department in Bihar.

Dr. Hrusikesh Panda (1978)

Dr. Hrusikesh Panda opted for his home state, Orissa, as his cadre. His educational qualification includes an M.Sc. in Chemistry, a diploma in Social Work, an MBA from Australia, and a Ph.D. in English. He is a well-known fiction writer from Orissa. Most of his career has been devoted to working for the poor.

32. Javed Usmani (1977)

• Attempt: First

Usmani holds an MBA degree from IIM, Ahmedabad, and an MSc degree in Social Policy and Planning from the London School of Economics. He became an IAS officer in 1978 and was allotted the Uttar Pradesh cadre.

Bhaskar Balakrishnan (1974)

Bhaskar Balakrishnan studied at the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur (1963-66), Delhi University (1966-68), and he holds a Ph.D. from Stony Brook University, USA (1968-72) in the field of Theoretical High Energy and Particle Physics. He held teaching assignments at Panjab University (1972-74) and Stony Brook University, USA. He joined Indian Foreign Services in 1974. He has also served as the Ambassador of India to Greece, Cuba, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic.

Nirupama Rao (1973)

• Attempt: First

Nirupama Rao served as India’s Foreign Secretary from 2009 to 2011. She chose IFS over IAS. Nirupama obtained her master’s degree in English Literature from Marathwada University in Maharashtra.

Duvvuri Subbarao (1972)

• Attempt: First
• Optional: Physics

Duvvuri Subbarao completed his M.Sc. degree from IIT Kanpur, and then he topped the UPSC CSE. He was allocated Andhra Pradesh Cadre. D. Subbarao also served as the 22nd Governor of the Reserve Bank of India. To study Economics, he attended Ohio State University, US, and later he also went to Massachusetts Institute of Technology.