Shashi Kant Sharma (centre)
Defence Secretary Shashi Kant Sharma was on Tuesday named as the new Comptroller & Auditor General of India (CAG).
The 1976 Bihar cadre officer will succeed Vinod Rai, who retires on Wednesday after five and a half years of his tenure as the head of the Constitutional financial watchdog.
"The President of India has appointed Shashi Kant Sharma, IAS, as the Comptroller & Auditor General of India, in terms of Article 148 (1) of the Constitution of India," the Finance Ministry said in a statement.
Mr Sharma, who holds a masters degree in political science from the University of York, will be taking over charge of the CAG from May 23, it said.
The 62-year-old Shashi Sharma will be administered the oath of office by President Pranab Mukherjee on Thursday.
Like Vinod Rai, Mr Sharma too has served as Secretary in the Department of Financial Services.
The CAG is appointed for a term of six years or till the incumbent attains the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier.
CAG audit reports on 2G spectrum and coal block allocations during Mr Rai's tenure triggered a number of controversies and raised the hackles of the government, besides bringing in the concept of presumptive loss in audit.