https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

The Pickle-Maker Administrator

He rewrote the rules for NDPS Act, 1984, which became a template for the whole country. He introduced the biometric and bank-linked Bhamashah healthcare card in Rajasthan, much before the Aadhar card was launched by the Centre. He pioneered outsourcing staff in the Government much before it became a norm.
Indian Masterminds Stories

Rajiv Mehrishi retired from the Indian Administrative Service after serving in senior positions like Chief Secretary of Rajasthan, Union Home Secretary, and Union Finance Secretary. He also served as the 13th Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) and Vice Chairman of the United Nations Panel of External Auditors in 2020. Recently he created quite a wave by his making of over 20 varieties of pickles which are available under the brand name ‘Pickley – Taste of Dada’. We wrote about it on July 11 (Sealing His Talent into Bottles: Signature Pickles from a Former Bureaucrat

In the second part of the story on him, Indian Masterminds writes about his administrative journey.  

A FASCINATING CAREER SPAN

Having done M.A. (History) from St. Stephen’s College, Delhi, and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, Scotland, Mr. Mehrishi has served in various positions in both Rajasthan government and the Centre, such as Principal Resident Commissioner of Rajasthan, Chairman of Indira Gandhi Nahar Board, District Magistrate and Collector of Bikaner in Rajasthan Government, and Union Fertilizers Secretary, and Union Overseas Indian Affairs Secretary, Special Secretary in Ministry of Agriculture and Joint Secretary in the Cabinet Secretariat, in the Union Government. This year, he was bestowed with the prestigious Padma Bhushan, India’s third highest civilian award. Recently he wrote a book, India 2022

HIGHLIGHTS OF HIS CAREER

Mr. Mehrishi claims that he enjoyed working in every position he was posted in. During his tenure in the Transport Department of Rajasthan, he rewrote the transport taxation laws and the rules for the Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1984, which became a template for the whole country. He was also pivotally involved in the important reforms of setting up the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), and enactment of the Indian Bankruptcy Code (IBC) and the Competition Act.

As Principal Secretary (Finance) in Rajasthan, he played a central role in conceptualizing and introducing the biometric and bank-linked ‘Bhamashah’ card, even before the Aadhar card scheme was announced by the Government of India in 2009. “I believe, every job is enjoyable if one does it to their best of abilities,” he says.

CHALLENGES AS A HOME SECRETARY

The job of a Home Secretary is extremely sensitive and demanding. One can’t afford to slip up or cause a delay in proceedings. Everything has to be completed within a time limit to avoid hampering the smooth flow of events. Other than internal security, Home Ministry also plays a pivotal role in disaster management in the country. Forces like NDRF are a part of the Home Ministry.

“Anytime there is a natural or man-made disaster, the job becomes extremely demanding because a lot of innocent lives are at stake in such cases. One has to be on high alert at all times. It is so busy a job that it doesn’t give one enough time to start new ventures,” Mr. Mehrishi told Indian Masterminds.

NEW PROJECTS AS SECRETARY, ECONOMIC AFFAIRS

As the Secretary of Economic Affairs, Government of India, Mr. Mehrishi was involved in several remarkable decisions and achievements of the ministry, during his tenure. Some of them included the Monetary Policy Framework Agreement between the RBI and the Central Government, the writing of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, and the amendments to the Foreign Exchange Management Act, among others.

PANCHAYAT ELECTIONS IN BIKANER

Sharing his experiences in the panchayat elections of Ajmer, Mr. Mehrishi said that all polling officers would stand in the scorching sun for hours in a queue in front of the counters to collect poll stationery. Therefore, when the 1984 Parliament Elections took place, during his tenure as the DM of Bikaner, he decided to change the order. “We arranged for a large hall and asked them to come in batches, every 45 minutes, sit on their assigned desks, after which our people went to every desk to distribute the ballots.” 

He further arranged for fireplaces on the site of polling stations, set up tea stalls free of cost, to protect them from the cold pangs of the chilly winter nights, and ensured that no one should have to stand in line for hours.

OUTSOURCING EVEN BEFORE IT WAS TRENDING

In 1988, when he was posted as the Director of Agriculture, the department had to shift to a new building and Mr. Mehrishi was called by the Chief Secretary and asked to move by the next week.

He soon realized that they had sanctioned 64 posts of Group D employees to clean the building. He observed that the government had to bear a huge cost for the workers. Therefore, Mr. Mehrishi went to the Finance Secretary at the time and proposed the idea of getting the work done from an outside agency.

“That system is now endemic in a much-evolved form in the entire country. Our contract wasn’t for the number of people assigned but the service that we wished to receive. It was specified in the contract which made things turn for the good,” he told Indian Masterminds. 

That way, he started outsourcing much before it became the norm for various government departments. 

Post-retirement too, Mr. Mehrishi has not been sitting idle. He has a number of consultancy assignments for which he keeps traveling between his native place Jaipur and his adopted place of residence New Delhi, and other cities where his work takes him. And on the side, he keeps making pickles as his favorite pastime. “It’s my best stress-buster,” he says, before signing off.


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
_BPCL_IandC_team_
BPCL Launches ‘Suraksha Bandhan’ Safety Initiative, Reaching Over 12,000 People Across India
Bank of Baroda
Financial Results: Bank of Baroda Board to Approve Q2 and Half-Year Unaudited Financial Results on October 31, 2025
Sandeep Lathar
Political Pressure Behind ASI’s Suicide? Wife Accuses IPS Officer’s Family, MLAs in FIR, Seeks CBI Inquiry
Special Campaign 5.0
Swachhata Takes Centre Stage: Government Launches ‘Special Campaign 5.0’ across Key Ministries to Clear Backlogs & Boost Office Hygiene
Railtel
Results: RailTel to Announce Q2 Financial Results on October 29, Proposes Interim Dividend with November 4 Record Date
GRSE Garden Reach
Results: GRSE to Review Q2 Results on November 4, Eyes Interim Dividend with Record Date on November 11
South Eastern Coalfields Limited SECL
SECL’s 12 Coal Mining Projects Delay Due to Green Clearances and Land Issues Amid Rising Demand
DPIIT Primus Partners MoU startup ecosystem
From Idea to Impact: DPIIT’s New Initiative Fuels Startup Growth in India
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-19 at 12.23
UPSC Journey Should Be Enjoyable, Not Cumbersome
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-16 at 15.16
The Many Facets of Former IRS Officer and Author, Giselle Mehta | Video Interview
IDES Saquib Alam
Beyond IAS and IPS: The Inspiring Work of an IDES officer | Video Interview 
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
IAS Rupal Rana UPSC
How Rupal Rana Cracked UPSC CSE 2023 with AIR 26 After Four Attempts
UPSC Topper Rupal Rana secured AIR 26 in 2023 after four attempts. Learn her preparation strategy, booklist,...
Ankita Parashar RAS 2023
4 Attempts, 1 Dream, 0 Excuses: Meet RAS Topper Ankita Parashar, Who Fulfilled a Daughter’s Promise & Secured Rank 2 | Exclusive Interview
Ankita Parashar, a teacher-turned-officer from Pushkar, fulfilled her late father’s dream by securing...
Kushal Chaudhary RAS
From Lab Assistant’s Grit to Rajasthan Topper: How Kushal Chaudhary Topped RAS 2023 with Self-Study | Preparation, Strategy & Interview
Kushal Chaudhary, a farmer’s son and lab assistant from Ajmer, topped RAS 2023 through self-study, overcoming...
Social Media
IFS Parveen Kaswan
Heartbreak by the River: 15-Day-Old Elephant Calf Rejected by Mother, Rescued by IFS Parveen Kaswan and His Team
Jaldapra, West Bengal: In a moving incident that tugs at the heart, a 15-day-old elephant calf was rescued...
Ashwini Bhide IAS and Anand Mahindra
Who Is IAS Ashwini Bhide, Hailed as a Role Model for Mumbai Metro Transformation by Anand Mahindra?
From heritage to high-tech: Bhide’s leadership in Metro Line 3 earns public praise and admiration
World Rhino Day India
On World Rhino Day, IFS Officer Parveen Kaswan Shares Rare Insights - India Now Hosts 80% of the World’s One-Horned Rhinos
September 22 Marks Global Call for Rhino Conservation; India Holds 80% of World’s Greater One-Horned...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
_BPCL_IandC_team_
BPCL Launches ‘Suraksha Bandhan’ Safety Initiative, Reaching Over 12,000 People Across India
Bank of Baroda
Financial Results: Bank of Baroda Board to Approve Q2 and Half-Year Unaudited Financial Results on October 31, 2025
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-19 at 12.23
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-16 at 15.16
IDES Saquib Alam
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT