The present CAG Girish Chandra Murmu will complete his tenure in November after reaching the age of 65 in the constitutional office. The names for the next CAG are being carefully considered in the power corridors. The retired secretaries, including Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla and Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba, are among the potential candidates. However, among the pool of heavyweight retirees, Rajiv Gauba is out of the race as he has already reached the age of 65. For Home Secretary Bhalla, he is currently 63 and will reach the age of 64 in November, leaving him with only a one-year tenure for CAG, making him also out of the race. Top sources indicate that while the names of these two are most likely to be considered for governorship and important advisory assignments, a few more recently retired secretaries are coming under scrutiny for the CAG role.

Top sources indicate that Health Secretary Apurva Chandra, who is scheduled to retire this month, and recently retired Defence Secretary Girdhar Armane are top contenders for the post of CAG. Despite more retirements expected in the coming months, Chandra and Armane are seen as strong contenders for the next Comptroller Auditor General of India.