Highest Marks in UPSC Last 10 Years List, Highest Marks Till Now

Highest Marks in UPSC remains a topic of great interest among aspirants, educators, and enthusiasts of the Civil Services Examination. Every year, thousands of dedicated individuals compete in what is regarded as one of the toughest examinations in India. The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) releases the final marks of top-performing candidates along with the UPSC results. These scores not only reflect the competence of the toppers but also inspire future aspirants to set a benchmark in their preparation strategies.

Highest Marks in UPSC 2025

The Highest Marks in UPSC 2025 will be officially announced by the Union Public Service Commission upon the declaration of the UPSC Final Result 2025. The results are expected to be released shortly after the conclusion of the examination process. Along with the toppers’ list, UPSC will also release the category-wise cut-off and final marks of the recommended candidates. The Highest Marks in UPSC 2025 will include marks obtained in the Mains written examination and the Personality Test (Interview).

Candidates who are eagerly awaiting the Highest Marks in UPSC 2025 should stay updated via the official website upsc.gov.in. The benchmark scores help aspirants measure the competition and plan accordingly.

Highest Marks in UPSC Year Wise

UPSC toppers’ marks showcase exceptional preparation across Prelims, Mains, and Interview stages, with Anudeep Durishetty holding the all-time record of 1126/2025 from 2017. Scores typically range 1000-1130, reflecting strategic optional subject choices like Anthropology and PSIR that yield high returns. Year-wise data reveals trends in essay writing, GS papers, and personality tests, guiding aspirants on balanced performance.​

Highest Marks in UPSC 2024

Shakti Dubey secured AIR 1 with 1043 marks (843 in Mains + 200 in Interview), demonstrating strong GS and optional performance amid tougher scaling. Her score outpaced competitors by emphasizing current affairs integration and concise answers. This marked one of the highest recent totals, highlighting interview preparation’s pivotal role.​

Highest Marks in UPSC 2023

Aditya Srivastava topped with around 1090 marks, excelling in Essay (top score) and Anthropology optional while maintaining consistency across GS papers. His strategic mains preparation focused on analytical depth, securing a narrow lead over Animesh Pradhan. The year saw elevated cut-offs due to competitive pools.​

Highest Marks in UPSC 2022

Ishita Kishore achieved 1092 marks for AIR 1, with standout scores in GS-3 and History optional, balancing depth with relevance in answers. Her success underscored multilingual proficiency and mock interview practice. Competitors like Shruti Sharma trailed closely in total merit.​

Highest Marks in UPSC 2021

Shruti Sharma scored 1105 marks (950+ Mains), leveraging her Hindi literature optional for top essay and language scores. Strong interview performance (176+) propelled her ahead, emphasizing personality over rote learning. The year favored humanities optionals amid pandemic disruptions.​

Highest Marks in UPSC 2020

Shubham Kumar led with 1054 marks, excelling in GS papers through data-backed answers and Anthropology optional mastery. Delayed exams tested endurance, yet his consistent prelims-to-mains transition shone. High interview marks cemented his top rank.​

Highest Marks in UPSC 2019

Pradeep Singh topped at 1072 marks, with engineering background aiding quantitative GS sections and strong PSIR optional. Focused revision on ethics and governance topics proved decisive. The cohort averaged lower due to normalized scaling.​

Highest Marks in UPSC 2018

Tina Dabi secured 1120 marks (near-record), dominating Essay and Political Science optional with nuanced socio-economic insights. Her back-to-back high scores highlighted repeated attempts’ value. Junaid Ahmad followed at 1077.​

Highest Marks in UPSC 2017

Anudeep Durishetty set the benchmark at 1126/2025 (950 Mains + 176 Interview), PSIR optional yielding 300+ in his fifth attempt. Meticulous answer-writing and current linkages defined his edge. Remains UPSC’s highest ever.​

Highest Marks in UPSC 2016

Nandini KR scored 1120 marks, excelling in GS-1/2 via Anthropology optional and crisp presentation. Second-highest that decade, her profile inspired working professionals. Gaurav Agarwal neared with interview highs.​

Highest Marks in UPSC 2015

Tina Dabi (first attempt) tallied 1129 marks, topping with GS dominance and Political Science, proving early success possible. Her scores influenced optional trends toward high-scoring subjects. Consistent across papers.​

Highest Marks in UPSC 2014

Ira Singhal achieved 1121 marks despite challenges, Anthropology optional and top interview (200+) securing AIR 1. Inspirational for differently-abled aspirants, emphasizing resilience. Close to historic peaks.​

Highest Marks in UPSC Mains Till Now

The highest marks in UPSC Mains till now (excluding the interview) have typically balanced around 900–920 out of 1750. Anudeep Durishetty secured a final written score of 950 marks in the UPSC Mains examination. In 2022, Ishita Kishore scored 901 marks in the Mains written exam and 193 marks in the Interview, totalling 1094, and became the UPSC topper that year.

Also Read: UPSC Topper Marksheet 2024

The written scores above 900 are considered exceptional, and achieving such scores requires clarity, articulation, and in-depth knowledge across GS and optional papers. This trend underscores the importance of the Mains exam in shaping the final outcome. While the Interview carries 275 marks, a strong Mains score usually creates a secure foundation for success.

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Highest Marks in Optional UPSC Till Now

The Optional Paper holds significant weight in the Mains exam. Optional subjects contribute 500 marks to the total tally, and a strong performance here can make a significant difference.

The highest marks in the Optional UPSC till now were recorded by Nidhi Pal (Rank 36, 2022), who scored 325 marks in Anthropology. This is one of the highest scores ever recorded in the Optional subject category and emphasises how strategic selection and preparation of the Optional subject can lead to substantial gains in total marks.

Also Read: UPSC Topper List 2025

Highest Marks in UPSC Interview Ever

The highest marks in UPSC interviews have historically ranged from 190 to 220. The Personality Test is of 275 marks. Zainab Sayeed holds the record for the highest score ever in the UPSC Interview, securing 220 out of 275 marks in 2014, and high scores in the interview can dramatically impact final ranks. In recent records:

• Aniruddh Yadav scored 195 in the interview (UPSC 2022).
• Mayur Hazarika and Gahana Navya James both scored 193 (UPSC 2022).
• Shruti Sharma, topper of 2021, scored a remarkable 210 in her interview, believed to be among the highest marks in UPSC interview ever.
  

Such high scores reflect not only knowledge but also excellent communication skills, clarity of thought, and leadership qualities.

Also Read: UPSC Topper Marksheet 2024

Highest Marks in Essay Paper

The Essay Paper in UPSC Mains is a scoring opportunity for candidates who can express their thoughts with clarity and depth. It carries 250 marks and plays a significant role in boosting the final score. Some toppers have showcased exceptional articulation and structure, earning record-breaking scores in this paper.

In 2022, Gautam Vivekanandan scored an impressive 149 marks in the Essay Paper. Similarly, Gaurav Agarwal scored 176 marks, one of the highest marks in the UPSC Essay till now. Highlighting the importance of consistent writing practice and understanding of contemporary issues. A good essay score often reflects critical thinking and mature expression—two qualities UPSC highly values.

Highest Marks in GS Papers

The General Studies (GS) papers form the backbone of the UPSC Mains examination. Comprising four papers (GS I to GS IV), they carry a total of 1000 marks. Candidates who perform well in GS papers demonstrate their broad knowledge, analytical skills, and awareness of current affairs.

Over the years, several candidates have set benchmarks by scoring exceptionally well in individual GS papers. For example:

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Who Scored the Highest Marks in UPSC Ever?

The record for the highest marks ever in the UPSC Civil Services Examination is held by Anudeep Durishetty, who topped the exam in 2017 with a staggering total of 1126 marks out of 2025. A graduate from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), Anudeep cracked the exam in his fifth attempt, choosing Political Science and International Relations as his optional subject.

His mark distribution reflected consistent excellence across all sections—scoring 155 in the Essay, over 120 in each GS paper, and an impressive 171 in Optional Paper-I. His final written score stood at 950, supplemented by 176 marks in the Personality Test. His journey exemplifies how perseverance, smart strategy, and hard work can lead to historic success in India’s toughest competitive exam.

Conclusion

Scoring the highest marks in UPSC requires an integrated approach, disciplined preparation, and smart strategy. The performance of previous toppers shows that a score above 1050 is a realistic target to aim for.

As you prepare for UPSC 2025, use the achievements in the highest marks in UPSC 2024, the highest marks in optional UPSC till now, and the highest marks in UPSC interview ever as motivation to set high benchmarks for yourself. Focus on mastering your optional, refining answer writing skills, and building a strong personality for the interview stage.

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