Over the last 11 years, the Narendra Modi government has pushed some of the biggest structural shifts in India’s governance. From digital payment systems to economic reforms, from social welfare outreach to internal security, it wasn’t just political leadership driving the transformation. Behind every policy that made it to the ground stood bureaucrats who ensured it worked. Among the finest of them is Rajiv Mehrishi, the man who held some of the most critical positions at the Centre, helped implement defining policies, and ensured the gears of government moved with precision.
An IAS officer of the 1978 batch from the Rajasthan cadre, Mehrishi is the only civil servant to have served as Chief Secretary of a state, Finance Secretary, Home Secretary, and eventually as the 13th Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India. This near-unprecedented range of top-level roles gave him a unique vantage point to influence India’s policy ecosystem during a time of dramatic change.
FROM RAJASTHAN’S NERVE CENTRE TO THE NATIONAL POWER CORRIDORS
Mehrishi began his journey in administration as District Magistrate of Bikaner, gradually climbing the ranks in the Rajasthan government. He served in key positions, including Chairman of the Indira Gandhi Nahar Board, Principal Secretary (Finance), and Principal Resident Commissioner. These postings prepared him for his most visible state-level role — Chief Secretary of Rajasthan, a post he assumed on 21 December 2013, under then Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje.
It was during Raje’s tenure that Mehrishi built a reputation as a no-nonsense officer who had an eye for budgets, systems, and people. That reputation followed him to Delhi, where he was picked for a series of high-profile union government assignments.
THE CENTRE’S GO-TO MAN
In 2014, Mehrishi was brought into the Ministry of Finance as Economic Affairs Secretary, and subsequently became the Finance Secretary, the top bureaucratic position in the ministry. Working closely with then Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, he became one of the architects behind several foundational reforms rolled out in the early Modi years.
When India was gearing up for its biggest financial overhaul, the rollout of the Goods and Services Tax (GST), Mehrishi’s financial prudence helped stabilise the backend machinery that supported the reform. His tenure was marked by high-stakes decisions, steady economic stewardship, and keeping public finance in check during a critical transition period.
But his next role was even more politically loaded. On 31 August 2015, Rajiv Mehrishi took over as Union Home Secretary, one of the most powerful and sensitive jobs in the country. Whether it was handling internal security issues, coordinating with states, or monitoring critical intelligence and border dynamics, Mehrishi ran the ministry with surgical precision.
GUARDIAN OF THE EXCHEQUER
As Mehrishi retired from active bureaucratic service on 30 August 2017, his career had already touched most of the government’s top posts. But the Centre wasn’t done with him yet. Within a month, he was back! This time in a constitutional capacity.
On 25 September 2017, he took oath as Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG), the constitutional authority entrusted with auditing the government’s receipts and expenditures. He remained in office till 7 August 2020, overseeing critical audits on defence, infrastructure, and public sector spending.
Internationally, he was also chosen as the Vice Chairman of the United Nations Panel of External Auditors, taking Indian auditing standards global.
THE PICKLE-MAKING BUREAUCRAT
Behind the scenes of one of India’s most illustrious administrative careers lies a lesser-known side of Rajiv Mehrishi; one that is tangy, spicy, and bottled. Yes, the same man who reviewed billion-dollar expenditures and negotiated national security policies has a deep love for making pickles.
With his own secret recipes, Mehrishi began crafting pickles as a hobby. Over time, it evolved into a full-fledged brand: “Pickley – Taste of Dada”, now available commercially. It’s rare to see a CAG with a chutney line, but in Mehrishi’s case, it’s just another extension of his detail-oriented personality.
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A FAMILY OF OFFICERS, A MIND FOR HISTORY
Mehrishi’s professional life is matched by a deeply academic personal profile. He graduated in History (BA and MA) from the prestigious St. Stephen’s College, Delhi University, and later pursued a Business Administration degree from Strathclyde Business School, Glasgow.
His wife, Mira (née Sahni), is also a retired IAS officer. His brother-in-law is Lieutenant General Anoop Malhotra. His three sons, Tarun, Tushar, and Abhinav, live in Bangalore, Mumbai, and the United States, respectively, all settled and married.
INDIA 2022: HIS WRITTEN TAKE ON A CHANGING NATION
Even after retiring from public service, Mehrishi has kept his mind engaged with India’s future. In his book, “India 2022”, he examines India’s economic and political landscape, offering a veteran’s view on the possibilities and pitfalls that lie ahead. The book underscores his policy mind — crisp, analytical, and never shying away from hard truths.
A PADMA BHUSHAN FOR QUIET EXCELLENCE
In 2022, the Government of India awarded Rajiv Mehrishi the Padma Bhushan, India’s third-highest civilian honour. It was a rare recognition for a bureaucrat, but one that felt inevitable for someone who has spent four decades influencing decisions at the highest levels of governance.
CORPORATE INDIA’S NEW ASSET
In July 2023, Mehrishi made yet another comeback. This time, into corporate India. He was appointed as an independent director on the board of Jio Financial Services Limited (JFSL), a spin-off from Reliance Industries. His five-year appointment was confirmed at a board meeting held on July 7, 2023, with the official record date marked as July 20.
From Bikaner to Bhavan, from Home Ministry to Home-made pickles, Rajiv Mehrishi’s journey is unlike any other in the story of India’s governance. Across roles, he never played for the gallery. He operated with clinical calm, often away from the headlines, yet always at the heart of the action.
Among the 11 bureaucrats who defined India’s transformation under the Modi government, Rajiv Mehrishi remains one of the most complete administrators, someone who not only understood governance but also knew how to season it with a little personal flavour.
