In a major administrative shift, K Sanjay Murthy has been appointed as the new Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India by the President, just two days before Girish Chandra Murmu’s term concludes. Murthy, a 1989-batch IAS officer from the Himachal Pradesh cadre, will take office on November 21, 2024. Currently the Secretary in the Department of Higher Education under the Ministry of Education, Murthy was scheduled to retire on December 31, 2024.
Murthy’s tenure as Higher Education Secretary, which began on October 1, 2021, has seen challenges, notably incidents involving paper leaks. His appointment as CAG comes under the constitutional powers granted to the President by Article 148. The Ministry of Finance issued a notification, emphasising the significance of this new role in overseeing government expenditure.
Murthy’s extensive experience in education policy has been marked by initiatives to advance higher education and partnerships with academic institutions. His new position as CAG not only marks a crucial advancement in his career but also leaves a vacancy in the Department of Higher Education, adding to the existing open roles for Secretary in the Ministry of Culture, the Department of Public Enterprises, and the Department of Personnel and Training.
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Girish Chandra Murmu, who has been CAG since August 2020, led audits impacting major programs like Bharatmala and PMJAY, influencing policy and fiscal governance. Murthy is expected to bring renewed focus and expertise to the CAG’s office, maintaining the critical oversight of India’s public finances.
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