New Delhi, May 21 (IANS) Defence secretary Shashi Kant Sharma will be the new Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India, replacing Vinod Rai, who retires May 22, the government announced Tuesday.

Sharma, a 1976-batch Bihar cadre Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, will take charge of the new appointment Thursday, the finance ministry said in a statement.

"The President of India has appointed Shashi Kant Sharma, IAS, as the Comptroller and Auditor General of India, in terms of Article 148 (1) of the Constitution of India," the statement said.