Profile: Former Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi sworn in as CAG of India

NEW DELHI, INDIA - JANUARY 3: Union Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi (R) and Air Marshal Anil Khosla, Director General Air Operations, address a press conference regarding security operations after an attack by gunmen on Pathankot Air Force Base in the northern state of Punjab, at PIB Conference Hall, on January 3, 2016 in New Delhi, India. Mehrishi expressed hope that the militants will be neutralised by evening. The home secretary said that due to active intelligence inputs and advance information, security forces were able to protect the air force assets. (Photo by Sonu Mehta/Hindustan Times via Getty Images)

Former Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi took over as Comptroller and Auditor-General today following an oath-taking ceremony. Mehrishi is an experienced bureaucrat who has worked in various ministries including Finance, which is going to be an asset for him as CAG of India.

Born in Rajasthan in 1955, Mehrishi is an alumnus of St Xavier's School, Jaipur and holds a Master’s and Bachelors degree from St Stephens College in Delhi in History. He also has a Management in Business administration degree from Strathclyde Glasgow.

An Indian IAS Administrative Services officer of 1978 batch of Rajasthan Cadre, he worked for both Union and State governments at top positions. He started as SDO of Ajmer and gradually climbed the bureaucratic ladder.

Before retiring last month after completing two terms as home secretary, he was finance secretary to the Government of India for 10 months. He has worked in the ministries of Petroleum, Corporate Affairs, Overseas India Affairs, and Fertilisers. Besides that, Mehrishi has also worked with President Secretariat and the Cabinet Secretariat.

Watch LIVE as #PresidentKovind administers oath of office and secrecy to CAG-designate Shri Rajiv Mehrishi at RPB https://t.co/mGbjzAHVaC
— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) 25 September 2017

In the state government, he worked in the areas of agriculture, transport and most importantly again finance—both in the capacity of Deputy Secretary and Principal Secretary of the finance ministry. Apart from that, he was also the Chief Secretary of Rajasthan.

As CAG, he replaces Shashi Kant Sharma, who enjoyed a relatively low-profile but impactful stint. Sharma took over as CAG from Vinod Rai, on whose stint several high-profile scams such as Coalgate came to light.