Anuj Agnihotri (AIR 1): Strategy, Attempts, Marksheet

Here is the UPSC preparation strategy of Anuj Agnihotri, who secured All India Rank 1 in the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2025.

Cracking the UPSC: The AIR 1 Strategy of Anuj Agnihotri

Securing the top spot in the UPSC Civil Services Examination is a feat many dream of, but few achieve. Anuj Agnihotri, All India Rank (AIR) 1 in the 2025 cycle, recently shared the blueprint of his success in a featured podcast with Vajiram and Ravi Official. His journey—from an MBBS graduate to the pinnacle of the civil services—offers invaluable lessons for every aspirant.

1. Discipline Over Motivation

One of Anuj’s most profound insights is his take on consistency. He believes that while motivation is essential to start, it is biologically impossible for it to last forever. Instead, he credits discipline as the fuel that sustained his three-year journey. When motivation inevitably dips, a rigid routine and a commitment to the process are what keep a candidate moving forward.

2. The “Holy Grail” of Preparation: PYQs

Anuj emphasizes that Previous Year Questions (PYQs) are the single most important resource for any aspirant. He refers to them as the “holy grail” because they provide a direct window into the examiner’s mindset.

• For Prelims: He suggests attempting and re-attempting PYQs to internalize the themes that UPSC frequently revisits.
• For Mains: He notes that while themes repeat, the ability to connect current affairs with static PYQ topics is the key to scoring high.

3. A Holistic and Interconnected Approach

Rather than studying subjects in silos, Anuj advocates for a comprehensive view of the syllabus. He believes that General Studies (GS) papers are deeply interconnected. For example, inputs from GS Paper 2 (Polity) or GS Paper 3 (Economy) should be used to enrich answers in the Ethics paper. This holistic approach makes the preparation more organic and less about rote memorization.

4. Strategizing the High-Reward Papers

To secure a top rank, Anuj prioritized the papers that offer the maximum scoring potential:

• Optional Subject: Choosing Medical Science (his professional background), he focused heavily on this 500-mark segment.
• Essay and Ethics: He identifies these as the ultimate differentiators. His strategy for the Essay was organic, drawing from life experiences, philosophy, and personal values rather than just technical data.

5. Managing the “Mental Game”

UPSC is as much a test of mental fortitude as it is of knowledge. Anuj’s strategy included:

• Social Media Detox: He took an “old school” approach, deleting apps like WhatsApp and Instagram to stay fully present in his studies.
• The Support System: He attributes much of his success to the emotional stability provided by his parents, who acted as his primary source of encouragement during low phases.
• The Importance of a Backup: Coming from a medical background, having a “Plan B” gave him the mental peace of mind to take risks and perform without the paralyzing fear of failure.

6. Advice for the “Unorthodox” Prelims

With the Prelims becoming increasingly unpredictable, Anuj suggests a three-pronged approach for the final 60 days:

1. PYQs: Constant revision of previous themes.
2. Mocks: Using mock tests not just for scores, but to expand the knowledge base and build exam-taking intuition.
3. Current Affairs: Staying updated through daily newspaper reading for at least the past 1.5 to 2 years.

Anuj Agnihotri’s Attempts at UPSC

• First Attempt (2023):
  • Timing: He began preparing in 2022 during his medical internship and appeared for the exam shortly after completing his college in January 2023.
  • Outcome: He was fortunate to be placed on the reserve list in his very first attempt.
  • Service Allocated: He was eventually allocated to the DANIPS (Delhi, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu Police Service).
  • Performance: He scored 111 in the Essay paper during this attempt.
• Second Attempt:
  • Timing: By the time he was allocated a service from his first attempt, he had already appeared for his second.
  • Outcome: He reached the interview stage but unfortunately did not make it into the final list.
  • Performance: His Essay score dropped to 98, which he noted as a point of fluctuation in his journey.
  • Experience: During this period, being in the service and surrounded by successful batchmates provided him with valuable inputs for different stages of the exam.
• Third Attempt (2025):
  • Outcome: He secured All India Rank 1 (AIR 1).
  • Strategy Evolution: Having written the Mains twice before, he used his previous experiences to identify and work on his specific weaknesses.
  • Mindset: He approached this attempt with a more humble perspective, realizing the uncertainty of the exam and the value of all civil services, not just the IAS.

Anuj Agnihotri’s Marksheet

Conclusion

Anuj Agnihotri’s journey is a reminder that success in UPSC is a marathon, not a sprint. By combining a professional’s technical discipline with a humble, interconnected way of learning, he proved that a “process-oriented” mindset is the surest path to the top.