The government has appointed Rajiv Mehrishi as the new home secretary.  Mehrishi was finance secretary (replacing Arvind Mayaram) and takes over from incumbent home secretary L C Goyal. The PMO said Goyal  has sought VRS which has been approved by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.


Mehrishi's appointment as home secretary comes on the day he is due to retire. He will hold the portfolio for two years.


Mehrishi was earlier Rajasthan's chief secretary since December 2013 and spearheaded many reforms initiated by the Vasundhara Raje government.

He led the economic affairs department of the finance ministry and was the seniormost among the secretaries heading the five departments of the ministry which also makes him finance secretary.


Possibilities of what is next on his platter has been talked about since Mehrishi, a 1978 batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer from the Rajasthan cadre, turns 60 in August and is therefore due for retirement.