Subhash Chandra Garg, a B.Com. and LL.B. graduate, was also qualified CMA (topper, 1981 Intermediate) and CS (topper, final 1990). Securing fourth position in India, Garg joined Indian Administrative Service (IAS) in 1983. He served in many important finance and budget related positions, including secretary and principal secretary (finance) for Rajasthan and joint secretary and secretary (also finance secretary) in Ministry of Finance. He was India's Executive Director at the World Bank as well.

After taking voluntary retirement in October 2019, Garg has published four widely acclaimed books: The $10 Trillion Dream (February 2022), We Also Make Policy (September 2023), The $10 Trillion Dream Dented (October 2024), and No, Minister (July 2025).

Since 2023, Garg has published an annual commentary on Government of India budgets. He also decodes the Union Budget every year on national television on the budget day. He is a prolific writer of opinion pieces in the Quint, Deccan Herald and others.