UPSC CSE 2021 Result Analysis: Historical Benchmarks & Strategic Roadmap for 2026-2027 Aspirants

Pooja Singh
February 17, 2026

A retrospective look at the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Civil Services Examination 2021 results provides a vital blueprint for the competitive benchmarks you should expect in 2026. While the final merit list was declared years ago, aspirants can still access the archived data at upsc.gov.in to analyze topper marks and category-wise distributions.

The final merit list for UPSC CSE was curated by combining the aggregate marks from the Mains (Written) Examination and the Personality Test (Interview) rounds. In a historic achievement for that cycle, Shruti Sharma emerged as the All India Rank 1 topper. For your 2026 strategy, understanding the 12-month window between the March Mains results and the Personality Tests (conducted April–May) is essential for scheduling your own preparation phases.

UPSC CSE 2021 Toppers: Leading the Way

Shruti Sharma secured All India Rank-1, marking a significant milestone. Following closely, Ankita Agarwal and Gamini Singla clinched the second and third positions, respectively. This year was particularly noteworthy as the top three ranks were secured by female candidates—a trend of excellence that has consistently evolved into the 2026 recruitment cycle.

UPSC Civil Services 2021: Top 10 & Optional Subjects

Analyzing the Optional Subjects of toppers is a critical step for your 2026 subject selection. In 2021, subjects like History, PSIR, and Sociology dominated the top tier.

Shruti Sharma (AIR 1): History
Ankita Agarwal (AIR 2): Political Science & IR
Gamini Singla (AIR 3): Sociology
Aishwarya Verma (AIR 4): Geography
Utkarsh Dwivedi (AIR 5): Political Science & IR
Yaksh Chaudhary (AIR 6): Economics
Samyak S Jain (AIR 7): Anthropology
Ishita Rathi (AIR 8): Economics
Preetam Kumar (AIR 9): Mathematics
Harkeerat Singh Randhawa (AIR 10): PSIR

Official Category-Wise Cut-off Marks & Difficulty Trajectory

Understanding the qualifying threshold is crucial for your 2026 strategy. To provide you with perspective, we have compared the 2021 marks with more recent trends to show the score inflation/deflation trajectory.

Category	2021 Prelims (Out of 200)	2021 Mains (Out of 1750)	2021 Final (Out of 2025)	2025 Est. Final Cutoff
General	87.54	745	953	~960+
EWS	80.14	713	916	~925+
OBC	84.85	707	910	~920+
SC	75.41	700	886	~895+
ST	70.71	700	883	~890+

Service Allocation Breakdown

For the 2021 cycle, UPSC recommended candidates for various prestigious All India Services. We have noted that vacancy counts significantly impact your final service allocation based on rank:

IAS (Indian Administrative Service): 180 Vacancies
IFS (Indian Foreign Service): 37 Vacancies
IPS (Indian Police Service): 200 Vacancies
Central Services Group ‘A’: 242 Vacancies
Group ‘B’ Services: 90 Vacancies

What Happens After the Final Result?

Once you successfully clear the examination in 2026, your journey continues with these critical steps:

Service Allocation: The DoPT allocates services based on rank and preference.
Foundation Course: Selected Officer Trainees report to LBSNAA in Mussoorie.
Cadre Allotment: For IAS/IPS, states are assigned following the Zonal Cadre Policy.

Strategic Roadmap: Preparing for 2026-2027

To mirror the preparation intensity of the 2021 toppers, you must follow a disciplined timeline. Our expert analysis suggests:

Optional Syllabus: Should be completed by October 2025.
Mains Answer Writing: High-intensity practice from November 2025 to February 2026.
DAF Evolution: Unlike 2021, the 2026 DAF (Detailed Application Form) requires more nuanced entries regarding “Digital Literacy” and “Crisis Management” hobbies.

Expert Guidance & Video Insights

For a detailed breakdown of the latest interview trends and what to expect in the 2026-27 cycle, watch this expert analysis:

How to analyze past results for your benefit?

Visit the official website upsc.gov.in.
Search for “Archived Final Results” to find the 2021-2025 PDFs.
Analyze the PDF to see the density of successful candidates from your specific educational background.

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