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Personal Details
- Full Name: Girish Chandra Murmu
- Date of Birth: 21 November 1959
- Place of Birth: Betnoti, Mayurbhanj District, Odisha, India
- Nationality: Indian
- Community: Santal (Scheduled Tribe)
- Marital Status: Married to Dr. Smita Murmu
- Children: One daughter (Ruchika Murmu) and one son (Ruhaan Murmu)
Educational Qualifications
Girish Chandra Murmu has a robust academic background:
- Master of Arts in Political Science, Utkal University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha
- Master of Business Administration (MBA), University of Birmingham, United Kingdom
Professional Background
Girish Chandra Murmu is a retired Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the 1985 batch, Gujarat cadre. He has held numerous significant positions in both state and central governments, showcasing expertise in administration, economics, infrastructure, and legal strategies. Known for his close association with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Murmu has been described as a trusted aide in various administrative roles.
Political and Administrative Career
Key Positions Held
- Relief Commissioner, Gujarat (2001): Managed disaster response during the early years of Narendra Modi’s tenure as Chief Minister of Gujarat.
- Commissioner, Mines and Minerals, Gujarat: Oversaw mining operations and regulations.
- Managing Director, Gujarat Maritime Board: Handled maritime infrastructure and operations.
- Joint Secretary, Home Department, Gujarat (2004): Worked under Amit Shah, managing legal cases related to the 2002 Gujarat riots.
- Principal Secretary to Narendra Modi (Gujarat Chief Minister’s Office): Provided strategic administrative support during Modi’s tenure as Chief Minister.
- Joint Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Government of India (2014): Contributed to financial policy-making after Modi became Prime Minister.
- Special and Additional Secretary, Department of Financial Services and Department of Revenue: Played a key role in financial reforms, including the Goods and Services Tax regime.
- Expenditure Secretary of India (1 March 2019 – 30 October 2019): Managed national expenditure policies.
- Member, Nirmala Sitharaman’s Finance Team (2019): Contributed to the Union Budget 2019.
- First Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir (31 October 2019 – 5 August 2020): Appointed after the abrogation of Article 370, overseeing the newly formed Union Territory. He resigned after one year and was succeeded by Manoj Sinha.
- 14th Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India (8 August 2020 – 20 November 2024): Served as the head of India’s supreme audit institution, succeeding Rajiv Mehrishi.
- Chairman, United Nations Panel of External Auditors (2020–2024): Led global audit coordination.
- External Auditor Roles:
- World Health Organization (WHO) (2020–2023, re-elected 2024–2027)
- Inter-Parliamentary Union (2020–2022)
- Food and Agriculture Organisation (2020–2025)
- International Atomic Energy Agency (2022–2027)
- Organization for Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (2021–2023)
Notable Achievements
- First Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir: Played a pivotal role in the administrative transition of Jammu and Kashmir into a Union Territory following the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019.
- CAG of India: Oversaw the preparation of over 150 audit reports annually, covering state and central government departments, ensuring transparency and accountability.
- International Recognition: Elected as the external auditor for multiple global organizations, including WHO and the Inter-Parliamentary Union, enhancing India’s presence in international audit forums.
- Trusted Aide of Narendra Modi: Served as a key advisor during Modi’s tenure as Gujarat Chief Minister and later in national roles, earning a reputation for efficiency and legal acumen.
Controversies
- 2002 Gujarat Riots: Murmu was questioned by the Central Bureau of Investigation in 2013 regarding an alleged staged encounter case involving Ishrat Jahan and three others, who were accused of plotting to assassinate then-Chief Minister Narendra Modi. Audio recordings, as reported by Tehelka, allegedly captured discussions involving Murmu on concealing details of the encounter, though no conclusive evidence was established.
Personal Interests
Murmu enjoys Indian classical and Sufi music, amateur photography, sketching, painting, and maintains a regular gym routine.
Recent Developments
In June 2024, Murmu’s name was speculated as a potential candidate for the Chief Minister of Odisha under the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government, reflecting his prominence in political circles.
