Meet Rajiv Mehrishi, India's new CAG

Former home secretary Rajiv Mehrishi took over as the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India today.

Mehrishi succeeded Shashi Kant Sharma and will have a tenure of about three years. The CAG is appointed for a term of six years or till the incumbent attains the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier.

As a constitutional functionary, the CAG is primarily entrusted with the responsibility of auditing the accounts of the Union government and of the state governments.CAG reports are laid before Parliament and legislatures of the states.

Mehrishi, a 1978 batch (retired) Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of Rajasthan cadre, completed his two-year fixed term as the home secretary last month. Mehrishi started as SDO of Ajmer and gradually climbed the bureaucratic ladder to become the Home Secretary of India. He was chosen as the home secretary by the NDA government the day he was due to retire as the finance secretary. He has worked in the ministries of Petroleum, Corporate Affairs, Overseas India Affairs, and Fertilisers as well as with President Secretariat and the Cabinet Secretariat.

Mehrishi, who hails from Rajasthan, holds Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow (UK).

He also possesses Master of Arts (MA) and Bachelor of Arts (BA) degrees from Delhi University.

Mehrishi has held several posts in both his state cadre Rajasthan and in the Centre.

Before his appointment as the home secretary, he worked as economic affairs secretary and chief secretary of Rajasthan.

Mehrishi has also worked as a secretary in departments of chemicals and fertilizers, and Overseas Indian Affairs.

Here's his entire profile: 

Mehrishi was Chief Secretary in the Rajasthan government before asked to move to the Centre. In that role, he was instrumental in the Vasundhara Raje ministry, helping push through key labour reforms in an attempt to attract industry, as well as an ambitious identity scheme for better delivery of public services and subsidies. Such measures by Raje’s government have been widely acclaimed and acquired the moniker of ‘Rajasthan Model’.

Apart from being a vocal critic of various schemes launched during the previous Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government, Mehrishi also believed that the very processes of governance that India’s administrative system had relied on for decades urgently needed fixing. 

Before being appointed Rajasthan chief secretary on December 2013, he was secretary ministry of overseas affairs and special secretary in the union agricultural ministry. Mehrishi, a 1978 batch Indian Administrative Services (IAS) officer (Rajasthan cadre) has served on many positions in the state government. He was joint secretary in the cabinet secretariat.