Shakti Dubey from Prayagraj secured the first rank in UPSC CSE 2024, announced on April 22, 2025. Her achievement marks another milestone in a long history of exceptional candidates who have topped this examination.
Since 1972, hundreds of brilliant minds have claimed the number one position, each bringing their unique preparation strategy and story of determination.
This article traces that journey, showing you every first ranker from 1991 onwards, the subjects they chose, and the states they came from, information that helps aspirants understand what works.
All-Time IAS Toppers List (1991-2024)
The Indian Administrative Service serves as the key bureaucratic pillar of India’s governance system, with IAS officers implementing policies, running districts, and bringing real change to citizens’ lives across the nation.
Their duties include revenue collection, disaster management, election conduct, and coordinating between the state and central governments to ensure smooth governance.
Here is the Complete UPSC AIR 1 Toppers from 1991 to 2024:
| Year | Name of Topper | Home State | Optional Subjects |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Shakti Dubey | Uttar Pradesh | PSIR |
| 2023 | Aditya Srivastava | Uttar Pradesh | Electrical Engineering |
| 2022 | Ishita Kishore | Uttar Pradesh | PSIR |
| 2021 | Shruti Sharma | Uttar Pradesh | History |
| 2020 | Shubham Kumar | Bihar | Anthropology |
| 2019 | Pradeep Singh | Haryana | Public Administration |
| 2018 | Kanishak Kataria | Rajasthan | Mathematics |
| 2017 | Anudeep Durishetty | Telangana | Anthropology |
| 2016 | Nandini K.R. | Karnataka | Kannada Literature |
| 2015 | Tina Dabi | Delhi | Political Science |
| 2012 | Haritha V. Kumar | Kerala | Economics & Malayalam Lit |
| 2011 | Shena Aggarwal | Haryana | Medical Science & Psychology |
| 2010 | S. Divyadharshini | Tamil Nadu | Public Admin & Law |
| 2009 | Shah Faesal | Jammu & Kashmir | Public Admin & Urdu Lit |
| 2008 | Shubhra Saxena | Uttar Pradesh | Psychology & Public Admin |
| 2007 | Adapa Karthik | Telangana | Zoology & Psychology |
| 2006 | Mutyala Raju Revu | Andhra Pradesh | Electrical Engg. & Mathematics |
| 2005 | Mona Pruthi | Haryana | English Lit & Sociology |
| 2004 | S. Nagarajan | Tamil Nadu | Geography & Sociology |
| 2003 | Roopa Mishra | Odisha | Public Admin & Psychology |
| 2002 | Ankur Garg | Punjab | Physics & Mathematics |
| 2001 | Alok Ranjan Jha | Bihar | History & Geography |
| 2000 | Vijayalakshmi Bidari | Karnataka | Mathematics & Kannada Lit |
| 1999 | Bhawna Garg | Punjab | Medical Science & Psychology |
| 1998 | Devesh Kumar | Bihar | Chemistry & Geography |
| 1997 | Sunil Kumar Barnwal | Jharkhand | Physics & Mathematics |
| 1996 | Iqbal Dhaliwal | Punjab | Economics & Public Admin |
| 1994 | Srivatsa Krishna | Bihar | Public Administration & Psychology |
| 1993 | Srijana Jha | Bihar | History & Pol. Science |
| 1992 | Anurag Srivastava | Uttar Pradesh | – |
| 1991 | Raju Narayana Swamy | Kerala | Medicine & Malayalam Lit |
These toppers represent decades of excellence and changing patterns in India’s most prestigious examination.
Uttar Pradesh leads with the most first-rankers, followed by Bihar and Delhi, indicating strong coaching and peer learning in these states.
Gender representation has shifted dramatically; women now dominate the top ranks, especially in 2024. Optional subjects evolved from science and engineering in the 1990s to the humanities, such as PSIR and Anthropology, today.
UPSC Toppers 2024 Overview
The 2024 examination witnessed outstanding performances across India, with women making history and several states showing remarkable strength in producing top rankers who will now serve the nation.
Let’s take a look at the top 10 UPSC Toppers of 2024:
| AIR | Name | Roll Number | State | Gender |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shakti Dubey | 0240782 | Uttar Pradesh | Female |
| 2 | Harshita Goyal | 0101571 | Haryana | Female |
| 3 | Dongre Archit Parag | 0867282 | Maharashtra | Male |
| 4 | Shah Margi Chirag | 0108110 | Gujarat | Female |
| 5 | Aakash Garg | 0833621 | Uttar Pradesh | Male |
| 6 | Komal Punia | 0818290 | Haryana | Female |
| 7 | Aayushi Bansal | 6902167 | Rajasthan | Female |
| 8 | Raj Krishna Jha | 6613295 | Bihar | Male |
| 9 | Aditya Vikram Agarwal | 0849449 | Uttar Pradesh | Male |
| 10 | Mayank Tripathi | 5400180 | Uttar Pradesh | Male |
This year, 1,009 candidates got selected: 335 from General, 109 from EWS, 318 from OBC, 160 from SC, and 87 from ST categories.
Women achieved a historic milestone by securing 5 out of the top 7 positions, marking 2024 as a breakthrough year for female candidates.
Each of these successful candidates has a unique story of preparation, persistence, and strategic planning that offers valuable lessons to future aspirants.
1. Shakti Dubey – AIR 1
At 28, Shakti from Prayagraj topped UPSC 2024 with 1043 marks, choosing PSIR optional and proving that persistence conquers failure.
Her fifth attempt was a success after three Prelims failures and one interview setback, inspiring millions to never give up on their dreams.
2. Harshita Goyal – AIR 2
Harshita Goyal, the Vadodara-based Chartered Accountant, secured second rank, proving that professional qualifications like CA provide strong analytical skills for UPSC success.
Her disciplined CA training helped her manage time effectively and approach questions with clarity, making her answers stand out among thousands.
3. Dongre Archit Parag – AIR 3
Dongre Archit Parag, a Maharashtra engineer, picked Philosophy optional and earned the highest male rank by effectively connecting current affairs with answers, showing that multidisciplinary thinking works well.
His ability to blend technical education with philosophical depth impressed examiners and showed that diverse academic backgrounds strengthen civil service preparation.
4. Shah Margi Chirag – AIR 4
Gujarat’s Margi claimed fourth place through consistent revision and rigorous practice in test series, becoming one of three women in the top 5 this year.
She maintained detailed notes that she revised multiple times, ensuring strong retention and accurate recall during the examination.
5. Aakash Garg – AIR 5
Aakash Garg, the UP candidate, chose Public Administration and built success on a strong NCERT foundation, effectively integrating current affairs to create relevant, high-scoring answers in the examination.
His strategy of reading newspapers daily and linking them to basic concepts made his answers both factual and contemporary.
6. Komal Punia – AIR 6
Haryana’s Komal selected Sociology as the optional and excelled through extensive answer-writing practice and regular mock tests, developing the speed and accuracy essential for UPSC success.
Writing answers daily helped her improve her handwriting, structure her thoughts clearly, and manage the strict three-hour time limit efficiently during actual papers.
7. Aayushi Bansal – AIR 7
Rajasthan’s Aayushi followed a structured study plan with regular revision cycles, contributing to the historic achievement of five women securing top 10 ranks.
Her disciplined approach included weekly targets, monthly assessments, and quarterly revisions that kept her preparation on track throughout the long journey to success.
8. Raj Krishna Jha – AIR 8
Raj Krishna Jha who is Bihar’s highest ranker, chose Public Administration and focused strongly on ethical and governance issues in answers, matching UPSC’s emphasis on value-based questions perfectly.
His deep understanding of administrative challenges and ability to suggest practical solutions showed the maturity that UPSC seeks in future administrators.
9. Aditya Vikram Agarwal – AIR 9
Aditya, a UP candidate, selected History optional and excelled through exceptional essay writing and multidisciplinary knowledge integration across all General Studies papers and options.
His habit of reading extensively beyond syllabus books gave him diverse perspectives and rich content that made his answers informative and engaging.
10. Mayank Tripathi – AIR 10
Mayank, an UP-based aspirant, chose Geography and used map-based learning with effective correlation with current affairs, completing his state’s dominance with five candidates in the top 10.
His visual learning method of marking every location, resource, and event on maps helped him answer location-based questions with precision and confidence.
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Conclusion: Shakti Dubey Is The 2024 IAS Topper
Looking at toppers from 1991 to 2024 shows one clear truth: success comes to those who don’t quit.
UP, Bihar, and Haryana continue to lead because they have strong coaching and study groups. Women taking 5 out of 7 top ranks in 2024 proves girls can do just as well when given the chance.
Shakti Dubey failed four times before she won, teaching us that falling down doesn’t mean staying down. Keep trying, pick smart subjects, revise more than you read, and stay mentally strong; that’s the real formula.
FAQs
Shakti Dubey from Prayagraj secured All India Rank 1 in UPSC CSE 2024, scoring 1043 out of 2025 marks with PSIR optional in her fifth attempt.
Scoring 800 marks helps clear UPSC but rarely secures top ranks; most successful candidates score 850-950, while toppers exceed 1000 marks in the examination.
The Cabinet Secretary holds the highest IAS position in India; this appointment changes periodically, so checking current government records provides the latest name.
This preparation strategy suggests spending 7 hours on new learning, 5 hours on revision, and 3 hours on answer writing practice daily for balanced preparation.
Shakti Dubey selected Political Science and International Relations (PSIR), a popular choice among recent toppers for its General Studies overlap and scoring potential.
