One Rank, Two Akanksha Singh: How UPSC Rank 301 Sparked An Identity Row Between Two Candidates

A controversy has emerged after the declaration of the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2025 results, with two candidates from different states claiming the same rank. The dispute revolves around Rank 301, with both women sharing the name Akanksha Singh and asserting that the position belongs to them.

The situation has triggered widespread discussion on social media after documents circulating online appeared to show identical names and roll numbers for both candidates. The development has raised questions and drawn attention towards the Union Public Service Commission for clarification.

Akanksha Singh From Bihar Claims Rank 301

One of the claimants is Akanksha Singh from Ara in Bihar, the granddaughter of Brahmeshwar Singh, the founder of the banned militia Ranvir Sena. She stated that she secured Rank 301 in the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2025 in her second attempt.

Speaking to reporters on Friday (March 6, 2026), she expressed confidence about her performance and said the achievement was connected to a long-held family aspiration.

"I was confident about securing the result this time around. This was my grandfather's dream. He had a lot of belief in me," she said.

Brahmeshwar Singh, her grandfather, was murdered in 2012. Ms Singh said she had followed a disciplined study routine during her preparation.

"I used to study 8-10 hours a day. My parents played a great role in my success. Last year, when I failed to clear the exam, they kept supporting me without any frustration or anger," she said.

Ghazipur Candidate Alleges Identity Impersonation

Meanwhile, another candidate named Akanksha Singh from Ghazipur in Uttar Pradesh has also claimed Rank 301 and alleged that her identity is being misused.

In a Facebook post, she said the rank associated with her name was being falsely claimed by someone else and shared documents that she said were her original identification papers.

"It has come to light that my rank and identity are being impersonated by others," she wrote.

She attached two documents along with the post, including what she described as her original ID and e-summon.

Confusion Over Similar Name And Roll Number

The row intensified after an admit card circulating on social media appeared to display the same name and roll number for both candidates, creating confusion about the actual identity of the candidate who secured Rank 301.

However, one key difference noted in the documents is that the fathers' names mentioned in the records are different.

The candidate from Ghazipur could not be contacted for further comments.

UPSC Clarification Awaited

With both candidates claiming the same rank and documents creating further confusion, the focus has now shifted to the Union Public Service Commission for an official clarification.

The commission has not yet issued a statement addressing the dispute, and it remains unclear how the matter will be resolved.