Two top slots in the coveted Union Public Service Commission Civil Services Examinations 2011 have been achieved by women candidates.

According to the results announced on Friday, Shena Aggarwal, who holds a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences here, has topped the examination. Whereas, Rukmani Riar, a Master of Arts (Social Entrepreneurship) from Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai, has got second rank.

While the third position is bagged by Prince Dhawan, who had done Master of Technology from the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi.

The Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination, 2011 was conducted on June 12. As many as 4,72,290 candidates applied for this examination, out of which 2,43,003 wrote the test.

According to a release by the Department of Personnel and Training, 11,984 candidates were declared qualified for the main written examination held in October-November, 2011 out of which 2,417 candidates were selected for the personality test conducted in March-April, 2012.

Finally a total of 910 candidates -- 715 male and 195 female -- have been selected for appointments to various central services like the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS) and Indian Police Service (IPS) among others.

The list of selected candidates includes 420 General (including 21 physically challenged), 255 Other Backward Classes (including 8 physically challenged), 157 Scheduled Castes (including four physically challenged) and 78 Scheduled Tribes candidates among others, it said.

The result also showcases the pan-Indian distribution of successful candidates in the examination. Among the top 25 candidates, there are candidates claiming domicile from Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chattisgarh, Delhi, Haryana, Jammu & Kashmir, Jharkhand, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh.

The top 25 candidates include alumni from some of the premier educational institutions of the country, including AIIMS, IIM and IITs. "An alumnus of London School of Economics also figures in the top 25," it said.

The family background of top 25 candidates show diverse representation from all walks of the life which include farmer, teacher, businessman, army personnel, low and middle level government servants, doctors, advocate, professor and civil servants.

Among them, six have made it to the merit lift in their first attempt; seven in second attempt; nine in third attempt; and one each in fourth, fifth and sixth attempts. As many as 12 have already been recommended to services other than IAS on the basis of Civil Services Examinations of previous years.

Of the top 25 candidates - 13 appeared from Delhi; three from Jaipur, two each from Mumbai & Chandigarh; and one each from Hyderabad, Chennai, Dispur, Patna and Jammu Centres.

UPSC, which conducts the examination, has opened a 'Facilitation Counter' near the Examination Hall Building in its campus.

Candidates can obtain any information or clarification regarding their examinations on the working days between 10 am -5 pm in person or over telephone nos 011- 23385271, 23381125, 23098543.

Results will also be available on the UPSC's Website (http//www.upsc.gov.in.). "However, marks are likely to be available on the website within 15 days from the date of declaration of results", the release added.