Rajiv Mehrishi will be the Comptroller and Auditor General for about three years.
Former home secretary Rajiv Mehrishi took over as the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India today. Mr Mehrishi, 62, succeeded Shashi Kant Sharma, who demitted office on Friday, officials said. President Ram Nath Kovind administered the oath of office and secrecy to Mr Mehrishi at a function in Rashtrapati Bhavan, which was attended by Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi among other dignitaries.
According to officials, Mr Mehrishi's appointment was recently cleared by the government. A 1978-batch (retired) Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of Rajasthan cadre, he completed his two-year fixed term as the home secretary last month.
Mr Sharma had taken over as the CAG on May 23, 2013. He was the defence secretary prior to his appointment as the CAG. He 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 the state governments. The CAG reports are laid before Parliament and legislatures of the states.
Mr Mehrishi, who hails from Rajasthan, holds a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow (UK). He also has an Master of Arts (MA) and Bachelor of Arts (BA) from Delhi University. Mr Mehrishi has held several posts in his state cadre as well as the Centre.
Before his appointment as the home secretary, he worked as economic affairs secretary and chief secretary of Rajasthan. He has also worked as secretary in departments of chemicals and fertilisers, and Overseas Indian Affairs.