UPSC 2025 AIR 3 Akansh Dhull: Attempts, Marksheet & Journey

Explore the journey of Akansh Dhull AIR 3 UPSC CSE 2025, his background, SRCC education, optional subject, 4 attempts, & preparation insights.

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Akansh Dhull AIR 3 2025

Key Highlights:

  • Rank secured by Akansh Dhull: AIR 3

  • Number of Attempts: 4

  • Optional Subject: Commerce & Accountancy 

  • Educational Background: B.Com from Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC), University of Delhi (DU)

  • Among the 958 candidates recommended by the Union Public Service Commission in the UPSC Final Result 2025, Akansh Dhull has secured All India Rank 3 in the civil services examination. 

  • The UPSC CSE result 2025 was released on 6th March 2026 and securing the first place in the UPSC Toppers list 2025 is Anuj Agnihotri. Rajeshwari Suve M secured AIR 2, with Akansh Dhull at AIR 3 and Raghav Jhunjhunwala at AIR 4.

  • Akansh Dhull emerged as the second-highest ranked male candidate in one of the toughest exams in India which is a rare and hard earned achievement. 

  • This blog traces the UPSC journey of Akansh Dhull providing insights into his background, attempts, marksheet and UPSC preparation strategy.

Akansh Dhull AIR 3 2025

Background of Akansh Dhull

Background of Akansh Dhull

  • Akansh Dhull was born in Rohtak, Haryana and grew up in Panchkula

  • He is the son of BJP leader Krishna Dhull and his mother is working as a school principal. They instilled in him the desire to serve the people. 

  • He scored a 10/10 CGPA in 10th grade while studying in St. Kabir Public School, Chandigarh.

  • Akansh completed his 12th grade education from Bhavan Vidhyalaya securing a percentage of 98%.

  • After that he pursued B.Com Honours from the prestigious Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC), Delhi University (DU)

  • He completed his graduation with an overall CGPA of 8.5 in 2022. His degree provided him with analytical depth and aptitude for quantitative questions that would help in his preparation for UPSC CSE. 

  • The decisive moment in Akansh’s academic journey was during campus placements when he chose not to sit for placements and instead commit fully to preparing for the administrative services. 

  • He gave four UPSC attempts before finally being able to secure AIR 3 in his fourth attempt.

  • Akansh Dhull has acknowledged that though he comes from a privileged background , his father’s political career served as an inspiration instead of an advantage and that he had to work hard for this achievement. 

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Akansh’s UPSC Journey and Attempts

Akansh’s UPSC Journey and Attempts

  • Akansh Dhull was able to refine his analytical thinking, quantitative expertise and debating skills during his SRCC years that helped him in his UPSC optional studies and Personality Interview test.

  • He was able to improve his performance and ranking throughout the four UPSC attempts, finally achieving his goal in his final attempt.

UPSC CSE 2023

  • In his second attempt, Akansh was able to secure AIR 342

  • This attempt gave him a practical understanding of where he stood in his preparation. 

  • He focused on areas in which he underperformed in the GS papers and his optional subject.

 UPSC CSE 2024

  • Akansh secured AIR 295 in his third attempt at the civil services examination (CSE).

  • Though the improvement in his ranking was modest, it signalled better preparation than before. 

  • He further integrated current affairs to core static topics across General Studies Papers and refined his essay writing and communication skills.

 UPSC CSE 2025

  • Through accurate diagnosis of his performance over the years, Akansh Dhull not only qualified in the UPSC Exam 2025, but secured AIR 3.

  • Four years poured into preparation for the exam paid off for him when the UPSC Final Result 2025 was announced and his determination serves as an inspiration for all UPSC aspirants. 

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UPSC Current Affairs Magazines

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Read Latest UPSC Current Affairs

Optional Subject chosen by Akansh Dhull

Optional Subject chosen by Akansh Dhull

  • Akansh Dhull chose the optional subject Commerce and Accountancy (C&A).

  • His commerce background from SRCC made it an obvious choice for him. 

  • The knowledge of financial accounting, corporate law, and business economics he had acquired from one of the best commerce institutes of the country helped him tackle his optional subject.

  • Commerce and Accounting optional also provided him with the opportunity to refine his Interview answers surrounding topics like public sector enterprises, fiscal consolidation, CAG audit findings, and budgetary policy. 

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UPSC CSE 2025 Marksheet

UPSC CSE 2025 Marksheet

Along with the UPSC result, the Union Public Service Commission also releases the marksheets of all candidates. The Marksheet includes:

  1. Mains Examination Marks

  2. Personality Interview Marks

  3. Final Total Marks

Out of the total nine papers in the UPSC Examination, only seven papers count towards the determination of final rank as per the board. They are:

  • One Essay Paper

  • Two General Studies Papers (GS Papers)

  • Two Optional Papers

Each paper is of 250 marks. These scores combined with marks obtained in the interview determine the All India Rank of candidates. 

Candidates can check their ranks on the official website (https://upsc.gov.in/)



UPSC Preparation Strategy

UPSC Preparation Strategy

Akansh Dhull was able to secure AIR 3 through consistent hard work and learning from his previous attempts. Successful candidates tend to have some commonalities in their UPSC preparation strategy:

  1. Start your preparation from standard study materials like NCERTs in order to build a solid foundation. 

  2. Learn from your mistakes and gaps in knowledge in order to improve your performance while studying for the UPSC exam. 

  3. Maintain a strict daily routine that you follow in order to efficiently cover all aspects of the preparation- including prelims, mains and interview phases.

  4. Managing your time and stress effectively is essential when preparing for one of the most competitive exams in India. 

  5. In order to stay updated on current affairs, read newspapers like The Hindu and the Indian Express and try to integrate current issues to core topics for well rounded answers.

  6. Practice answer writing and give mock tests and interviews. Feedback from these will help you refine your performance in the UPSC Civil service examination. 

Frequently asked question (FAQs)

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Conclusion

Conclusion

  • As a commerce graduate, Akansh Dhull has become an inspiration for UPSC aspirants hailing from diverse academic backgrounds. 

  • He leveraged his academic excellence by choosing an optional subject that coincided with his background.

  • Going from AIR 342 in his second attempt to AIR 3 in his fourth attempt, Akansh Dhull’s story demonstrates that he is capable of self improvement and analysis which are respected qualities in future civil servants. 

  • Moreover his resolve to join public service despite having the opportunity to be placed through his college shows that passion towards the goal plays a huge role in success. He wishes to join the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and serve the people.

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PadhAI, ChatGPT, Gemini and Claude Compared for UPSC

For UPSC preparation, use the tool that matches the job. PadhAI.ai is the stronger fit for current affairs, Previous Year Questions (PYQs), doubts, quizzes and Mains (written examination) feedback in one connected workflow.

ChatGPT, Gemini and Claude are more flexible for general explanations, brainstorming, research and document work. Many aspirants will get more value from using both types.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) can shorten research and feedback time. It cannot decide which fact deserves trust, write your exam by hand or build discipline for you.

This comparison looks at study tasks and evidence, not brand popularity. If you want a wider list first, see these UPSC preparation apps.

Key Highlights

  • PadhAI reduces the setup needed for common UPSC tasks because its current affairs, PYQs, AI Tutor, BookChat, quizzes and Mains evaluation sit in a connected exam workflow.

  • ChatGPT is useful for step-by-step explanations, uploaded PDFs, brainstorming and general learning. You still need to supply the syllabus, source and evaluation rules.

  • Gemini suits broad learning, source exploration, files and Google-connected work. Claude is useful for long document discussions, learning through questions and source-based synthesis.

  • The 2023 headline that ChatGPT failed UPSC describes an older, third-party experiment. It is not a current product benchmark.

  • PadhAI's reported 2024 Prelims score is noteworthy, but it covered one objective paper. It did not prove a Civil Services Examination rank or selection outcome.

  • The safest rule is simple: keep official sources and standard books as your factual base, use AI for assistance, then verify and practise yourself.

Decision rule: Choose PadhAI for a connected UPSC practice and feedback cycle. Choose a general AI assistant for flexible explanation, research or document work. Use both when they perform different jobs in the same study session.

How this comparison was made: PadhAI publishes this page and includes its own product. We checked current first-party product pages on 25 August 2026 and treated the comparison as research-based.

We did not run an equal model-by-model performance test. PadhAI is an independent education platform and is not associated with the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).

PadhAI vs ChatGPT vs Gemini vs Claude

PadhAI, ChatGPT, Gemini and Claude Compared for UPSC

For UPSC preparation, use the tool that matches the job. PadhAI.ai is the stronger fit for current affairs, Previous Year Questions (PYQs), doubts, quizzes and Mains (written examination) feedback in one connected workflow.

ChatGPT, Gemini and Claude are more flexible for general explanations, brainstorming, research and document work. Many aspirants will get more value from using both types.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) can shorten research and feedback time. It cannot decide which fact deserves trust, write your exam by hand or build discipline for you.

This comparison looks at study tasks and evidence, not brand popularity. If you want a wider list first, see these UPSC preparation apps.

Key Highlights

  • PadhAI reduces the setup needed for common UPSC tasks because its current affairs, PYQs, AI Tutor, BookChat, quizzes and Mains evaluation sit in a connected exam workflow.

  • ChatGPT is useful for step-by-step explanations, uploaded PDFs, brainstorming and general learning. You still need to supply the syllabus, source and evaluation rules.

  • Gemini suits broad learning, source exploration, files and Google-connected work. Claude is useful for long document discussions, learning through questions and source-based synthesis.

  • The 2023 headline that ChatGPT failed UPSC describes an older, third-party experiment. It is not a current product benchmark.

  • PadhAI's reported 2024 Prelims score is noteworthy, but it covered one objective paper. It did not prove a Civil Services Examination rank or selection outcome.

  • The safest rule is simple: keep official sources and standard books as your factual base, use AI for assistance, then verify and practise yourself.

Decision rule: Choose PadhAI for a connected UPSC practice and feedback cycle. Choose a general AI assistant for flexible explanation, research or document work. Use both when they perform different jobs in the same study session.

How this comparison was made: PadhAI publishes this page and includes its own product. We checked current first-party product pages on 25 August 2026 and treated the comparison as research-based.

We did not run an equal model-by-model performance test. PadhAI is an independent education platform and is not associated with the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).

PadhAI vs ChatGPT vs Gemini vs Claude

Best UPSC Online Coaching 2027: Fees, Classes, 7 Checks

There is no single best online coaching for every UPSC 2027 aspirant.

A beginner who needs a full teaching sequence may prefer a faculty-led foundation course.

A working professional may need evening classes and reliable recordings.

A repeater may get better value from tests and answer feedback.

A disciplined self-learner may not need another lecture package at all.

This guide compares seven providers with first-party 2027 course pages.

Some cohorts had started or carried a past admission date, so check enrolment before shortlisting.

Best UPSC Online Coaching 2027

Best UPSC Online Coaching 2027: Fees, Classes, 7 Checks

There is no single best online coaching for every UPSC 2027 aspirant.

A beginner who needs a full teaching sequence may prefer a faculty-led foundation course.

A working professional may need evening classes and reliable recordings.

A repeater may get better value from tests and answer feedback.

A disciplined self-learner may not need another lecture package at all.

This guide compares seven providers with first-party 2027 course pages.

Some cohorts had started or carried a past admission date, so check enrolment before shortlisting.

Best UPSC Online Coaching 2027

UPSC Keywords List for Mains Answer Writing Practice

upsc keywords to enhance mains answer writing
UPSC directive keywords tell you exactly what an examiner expects from your Mains answer. Misread one word and your answer scores zero — even if your content is correct. This complete guide covers all directive words for UPSC Mains, their meanings, answer structures, and a free PDF download.

UPSC Keywords List for Mains Answer Writing Practice

upsc keywords to enhance mains answer writing
UPSC directive keywords tell you exactly what an examiner expects from your Mains answer. Misread one word and your answer scores zero — even if your content is correct. This complete guide covers all directive words for UPSC Mains, their meanings, answer structures, and a free PDF download.

PadhAI UPSC App

We're PadhAI - a free UPSC prep app built by IITians, AI PhDs & top UPSC experts.

Why choose PadhAI?

Read daily top news (TH & IE) & Solve Current Affairs MCQs
Topic-wise search of 30+ yrs PYQs
24×7 AI tutor for doubt resolution
Practice 30k+ MCQs & full GS + CSAT mocks
Play Duel UPSC quizzes with fellow aspirants
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Kartikey Mishra

Growth | FTE| Full-time Sigeek
Kartikey blends strategic growth expertise with a deep understanding of the UPSC ecosystem, shaping how aspirants learn and prepare in the digital age. With over eight years of experience in ed-tech, he leverages data-driven insights, student behaviour patterns, and content distribution strategies to make high-quality UPSC guidance accessible at scale. His work focuses on simplifying preparation journeys, improving learning efficiency, and helping aspirants stay consistent through AI-powered tools and intuitive content design. Kartikey’s intersection of EdTech innovation and UPSC-specific audience understanding allows him to create impactful solutions that directly support aspirants across all stages of their preparation.
a close up of a cell phone with a blurry background

Kartikey Mishra

Growth | FTE| Full-time Sigeek

Kartikey blends strategic growth expertise with a deep understanding of the UPSC ecosystem, shaping how aspirants learn and prepare in the digital age. With over eight years of experience in ed-tech, he leverages data-driven insights, student behaviour patterns, and content distribution strategies to make high-quality UPSC guidance accessible at scale. His work focuses on simplifying preparation journeys, improving learning efficiency, and helping aspirants stay consistent through AI-powered tools and intuitive content design. Kartikey’s intersection of EdTech innovation and UPSC-specific audience understanding allows him to create impactful solutions that directly support aspirants across all stages of their preparation.

Latest UPSC Exam 2026 Updates

View the complete exam schedule, including Prelims, Mains, and Personality Test dates.
Check category-wise cutoff marks for the UPSC CSE 2026 Preliminary Examination.
View the final list of recommended candidates for the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2026.
The final list of selected candidates for UPSC CSE 2025 is now available.
Check the category-wise cut-off marks for the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2025.
The official schedule for UPSC examinations in 2026 has been released on 15 May 2025.
The results of the UPSC Civil Services Mains Examination 2025 have been officially released.
Check the updated and latest syllabus for the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2026.
The official notification for the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2025 was released on 22 January 2025.
Access the UPSC Prelims 2025 question paper along with the unofficial answer key.

UPSC Exam Dates 2026

UPSC Prelims 2026 will be held on 24 May 2026, and UPSC Mains 2026 will begin on 21 August 2026.

UPSC Selection Process

The UPSC Civil Services selection process consists of three stages: Prelims, Mains, and the Interview.

UPSC Result 2024 & Marksheet

The UPSC Civil Services Result 2024 has been released along with the official marksheet.

Latest UPSC Exam 2026 Updates

View the complete exam schedule, including Prelims, Mains, and Personality Test dates.
Check category-wise cutoff marks for the UPSC CSE 2026 Preliminary Examination.
View the final list of recommended candidates for the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2026.
The final list of selected candidates for UPSC CSE 2025 is now available.
Check the category-wise cut-off marks for the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2025.
The official schedule for UPSC examinations in 2026 has been released on 15 May 2025.
The results of the UPSC Civil Services Mains Examination 2025 have been officially released.
Check the updated and latest syllabus for the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2026.
The official notification for the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2025 was released on 22 January 2025.
Access the UPSC Prelims 2025 question paper along with the unofficial answer key.

UPSC Exam Dates 2026

UPSC Prelims 2026 will be held on 24 May 2026, and UPSC Mains 2026 will begin on 21 August 2026.

UPSC Selection Process

The UPSC Civil Services selection process consists of three stages: Prelims, Mains, and the Interview.

UPSC Result 2024 & Marksheet

The UPSC Civil Services Result 2024 has been released along with the official marksheet.

Join the discussion

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Why choose PadhAI?

Read daily top news (TH & IE) & Solve Current Affairs MCQs

Topic-wise search of 30+ yrs PYQs

24×7 AI tutor for doubt resolution

Practice 30k+ MCQs & full GS + CSAT mocks

Play Duel UPSC quizzes with fellow aspirants

PadhAI UPSC App

We're PadhAI - a free UPSC prep app built by IITians, AI PhDs & top UPSC experts.

Why choose PadhAI?

Read daily top news (TH & IE) & Solve Current Affairs MCQs

Topic-wise search of 30+ yrs PYQs

24×7 AI tutor for doubt resolution

Practice 30k+ MCQs & full GS + CSAT mocks

Play Duel UPSC quizzes with fellow aspirants

PadhAI UPSC App

We're PadhAI - a free UPSC prep app built by IITians, AI PhDs & top UPSC experts.
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PadhAI, ChatGPT, Gemini and Claude Compared for UPSC

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upsc keywords to enhance mains answer writing

UPSC Keywords List for Mains Answer Writing Practice

UPSC directive keywords tell you exactly what an examiner expects from your Mains answer. Misread one word and your answer scores zero — even if your content is correct. This complete guide covers all directive words for UPSC Mains, their meanings, answer structures, and a free PDF download.
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upsc keywords to enhance mains answer writing

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UPSC directive keywords tell you exactly what an examiner expects from your Mains answer. Misread one word and your answer scores zero — even if your content is correct. This complete guide covers all directive words for UPSC Mains, their meanings, answer structures, and a free PDF download.
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Don't get left behind on your UPSC prep

Don't get left behind on your UPSC prep

Don't get left behind on your UPSC prep

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