BharatNotes Verified Hindi-medium toppers include Ravi Kumar Sihag (AIR 18, 2021), Sunil Kumar Dhanwanta (AIR 22, 2021), and Divya Tanwar (AIR 105, 2022). Hindi medium yields roughly 25-50 selections per year out of ~1,000 total.
Verified Hindi-Medium Toppers (2020-2024)
| Year | Name | Rank | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Ravi Kumar Sihag | AIR 18 | Hindi Literature optional; highest Hindi-medium rank in years |
| 2021 | Sunil Kumar Dhanwanta | AIR 22 | Hindi Literature optional; 3rd attempt |
| 2022 | Divya Tanwar | AIR 105 | No coaching; widely cited as Hindi-medium success story |
| 2020 | Multiple | Outside top 100 | Estimated 8-10 Hindi-medium selections |
Note: Aditya Srivastava (AIR 1, 2023) is from Lucknow and hailed as an inspiration for Hindi-medium aspirants, but his confirmed Mains medium is not officially verified in public sources — he studied at IIT Kanpur and his examination language has not been confirmed as Hindi in available media.
Selection Rate Data
Based on LBSNAA analyses and media reporting:
- Hindi-medium candidates appearing in Mains: approximately 500 out of ~14,000 (roughly 3-4%)
- Hindi-medium selections per year: approximately 25-50 out of ~900-1,000 (roughly 3-5%)
- The selection ratio (selections / Mains appearances) for Hindi medium is therefore broadly comparable to the overall ratio, suggesting no systemic disadvantage in final conversion
- However, Hindi-medium candidates who clear Prelims are a self-selected, highly motivated group — raw comparison is not straightforward
Why Hindi-Medium Topper Data Matters
The 2021 performance of Sihag and Dhanwanta broke a multi-year drought of Hindi-medium candidates in the top 25. UPSC itself does not publish medium-wise rank breakdowns; figures are derived from RTI responses, LBSNAA training data, and media interviews with toppers. Always verify a topper's claimed medium through their own stated interviews rather than coaching-institute marketing.
