Discover the highest marks ever scored in the UPSC Civil Services Exam including UPSC 2025 and 2024 trends. Get details on top scores in Mains, Interview, Optional, Essay, and GS Papers with tips to score high in the UPSC exam.
theIAShub | 25 Apr, 2025 | 1061 | 0
Getting Highest Marks in UPSC is an extraordinary achievement since cracking the UPSC Civil Services Examination is one of India’s toughest academic challenges. Thousands apply, but only a few make it to the top. Among them, some candidates leave a mark by scoring exceptionally high. This article covers the highest marks in UPSC history, including data from UPSC 2025 and UPSC 2024. It also looks at the top scores in mains, interview, and optional papers over the years.
Also Read: UPSC Result 2025
The highest marks in the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2025 (for the 2024 exam cycle) were secured by Shakti Dubey, who achieved a total of 1043 marks, earning her All India Rank 1 (AIR 1).
Key Highlights:
Top Scores in UPSC 2025:
Also Read: UPSC Toppers 2025
The Highest Marks in UPSC 2024 was achieved by Aditya Shrivastava. He scored 1099 marks out of 2500 to top the UPSC CSE Exam 2023 and achieve Rank 1.
Also Read: UPSC Marksheet
List of IAS Toppers Interview + Mains Marks in last few years:
| Year | AIR | Name | Marks (Mains + Interview) | Total Marks (2025) | Percentage |
| 2022 | 1 | Ishita Kishore | 1094 | 2025 | 54.02% |
| 2022 | 2 | Garima Lohia | 1063 | 2025 | 52.49% |
| 2022 | 3 | Uma Harathi N | 1060 | 2025 | 52.35%* |
| 2021 | 1 | Shruti Sharma | 1105 | 2025 | 54.57% |
| 2021 | 2 | Ankita Agarwal | 1050 | 2025 | 51.85% |
| 2021 | 3 | Gamini Singla | 1045 | 2025 | 51.60% |
| 2020 | 1 | Shubham Kumar | 1054 | 2025 | 52.05% |
| 2020 | 2 | Jagruti Awasthi | 1052 | 2025 | 51.95% |
| 2020 | 3 | Ankita Jain | 1051 | 2025 | 51.90% |
| 2019 | 1 | Pradeep Singh | 1072 | 2025 | 52.94% |
| 2019 | 2 | Jatin Kishore | 1063 | 2025 | 52.49% |
| 2019 | 3 | Pratibha Verma | 1062 | 2025 | 52.44% |
| 2018 | 1 | Kanishak Kataria | 1121 | 2025 | 55.36% |
| 2018 | 2 | Akshat Jain | 1080 | 2025 | 53.33% |
| 2018 | 3 | Junaid Ahmed | 1077 | 2025 | 53.19% |
| 2017 | 1 | Anudeep Durishetty | 1126 | 2025 | 55.60% |
| 2016 | 1 | Nandini KR | 1120 | 2025 | 55.31% |
| 2015 | 1 | Tina Dabi | 1063 | 2025 | 52.49% |
| 2014 | 1 | Ira Singhal | 1082 | 2025 | 53.43% |
Also Read: UPSC Toppers List 2024
Choosing the right optional subject can make a big difference. Over the years, certain subjects have yielded better scores. The highest marks in optional UPSC till now are often found in subjects like Anthropology, Sociology, and Public Administration.
The Optional Paper plays an important role in determining the overall score of a candidate. Having a high score in the Optional Paper can significantly improve your final rank in the UPSC Final Result list. The Highest Optional Score in 2022 was earned by Nidhi Pal, Rank 36. She scored a total of 325 marks in her Optional paper I & II and had Anthropology as her Optional Subject. Let’s have a look of the Highest marks in the Optional paper-
| Rank | Name | Optional Subject | Total Score (Paper I+II) |
| Rank 1 | Ishita Kishore | PSIR | 313 |
| Rank 10 | Avinash Kumar | Philosophy | 319 |
| Rank 12 | Laghima Tiwari | Anthropology | 304 |
| Rank 17 | Manan Agarwal | Mathematics | 310 |
| Rank 34 | Siddharth K Misra | Mathematics | 311 |
| Rank 36 | Nidhi Pal | Anthropology | 325 |
| Rank 40 | Gagan Singh Meena | Mathematics | 312 |
| Rank 59 | Mehta Keval Nilesh | Anthropology | 305 |
| Rank 74 | Komal Aggarwal | Sociology | 315 |
Also Read: Sociology optional syllabus
Also Read: Geography optional Syllabus
Also Read: Chemistry optional syllabus
Also Read: Mechanical engineering optional Syllabus
The highest Marks in the UPSC Main Essay Paper 2022 were scored by Rank 61 Gautam Vivekanandan with the highest Essay score of 149 marks. The essay paper in the UPSC Civil Services Examination plays a pivotal role in determining your overall success. It serves as a unique platform for you to showcase your analytical skills, clarity of thought, and the ability to articulate complex ideas coherently. This paper holds the potential to set you apart from the competition and boost your scores significantly. Moreover, the essay paper not only evaluates your knowledge but also your capacity to present your ideas concisely and persuasively.
Also Read: How to Prepare for UPSC
The UPSC Mains Examination consists of four General Studies Papers- I, II, III and IV. All the four GS Papers are counted in determining the merit score of the candidate in the UPSC Exam. Let’s have a look at the Highest Marks scored by the candidates in UPSC Mains GS Papers 2022.
| Paper | Highest GS Score 2022 | Name | Rank |
| GS Paper-1 | 128 | Abhishek Dawachya | Rank 110 |
| GS Paper-2 | 135 | Vaishali | Rank 14 |
| GS Paper-3 | 102 | Mayur Hazarika | Rank 5 |
| GS Paper -4 | 141 | Garima Lohia | Rank 2 |
In the high-stakes environment of the UPSC interview, it’s not just about knowledge but also about how well you can adapt and perform under pressure. Achieving the highest marks in this interview is a testament to the candidates’ ability to respond effectively to challenging questions and demonstrate their unique strengths.
Here’s a look at the previous year’s highest marks ever scored in the UPSC interview:
| Candidate | Year | Marks in Interview | All India Rank |
| Zainab Sayeed | 2014 | 220 | 107 |
| Apala Mishra | 2020 | 215 | 09 |
| Ankita Jain | 2020 | 212 | 03 |
| Ashutosh Kumar | 2021 | 206 | 77 |
| Kiran PB | 2021 | 206 | 100 |
| Zenden Lingzerpa | 2022 | 210 | 598 |
| Tenzin Yangki | 2022 | 210 | 545 |
| Yimkum I Ozukum | 2022 | 210 | 203 |
| Aniket Shandilya | 2023 | 215 | 12 |
Anudeep Durishetty scored the highest marks in the UPSC Civil Services Examination ever, with a total of 1126 marks in 2017. He is a graduate of the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) and cleared the UPSC exam on his fifth attempt. His optional subject was Political Science and International Relations. Durishetty’s success is a testament to his hard work, dedication, and perseverance.
Below we have attached the Subject wise marks of Anudeep Durishetty:
| Subjects | Marks |
| Essay | 155 |
| General Studies-I | 123 |
| General Studies -II | 123 |
| General Studies- III | 136 |
| General Studies -IV | 095 |
| Optional Paper-I | 171 |
| Optional Paper- II | 147 |
| Written Total | 950 |
| Personality Test | 176 |
| Final Total | 1126 |
Also Read: UPSC Prelims Syllabus
Aiming for the highest marks in UPSC is a good goal. But it’s better to aim for consistent performance. Most toppers do not top every paper. Instead, they avoid low scores and stay above average in all areas.
Here’s what matters most:
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The highest marks in UPSC 2025 will inspire a new generation. Each year, toppers raise the bar. But high scores don’t come from shortcuts. They come from regular effort, smart planning, and clarity.
Whether you’re looking at the highest marks in UPSC 2024, highest marks in UPSC mains till now, or even the highest marks in optional UPSC till now, the pattern is clear: focus, revise, and stay consistent.
In UPSC 2024, Aditya Shrivastava secured the highest marks with a total of 1099 out of 2025. He topped the UPSC CSE 2023 and achieved All India Rank 1. His score set a benchmark for future aspirants aiming for top ranks in the exam.
The highest marks in optional UPSC till now were scored by Nidhi Pal (Rank 36 in 2022), who secured 325 marks in Anthropology. Subjects like Anthropology, Sociology, and PSIR have consistently yielded high scores over the years.
The highest UPSC interview marks ever recorded were 220, achieved by Zainab Sayeed in 2014. Other top interview scores include 215 by Apala Mishra in 2020 and Aniket Shandilya in 2023. Scoring high in the personality test can significantly impact the final rank.
To score the highest marks in UPSC: Write structured, clear answers, Choose a strong optional subject you're comfortable with, Practice answer writing and give mock tests regularly, Prepare your DAF well for the interview, Use simple language and relevant examples. Consistency across all papers matters more than excelling in just one.
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