Who Is Devesh Chaturvedi? Retired 1989-Batch IAS Officer Appointed National Sports Board Chairman; P.K. Garg Named Member
New Delhi: The Central Government has appointed retired 1989-batch Uttar Pradesh-cadre IAS officer Devesh Chaturvedi as the Chairman of the National Sports Board (NSB), the statutory authority responsible for regulating the recognition and governance of National Sports Federations (NSFs) in India.
Alongside Chaturvedi, Commodore (Retd.) P.K. Garg, former Chief Executive Officer of the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), has also been appointed as a member of the Board.
Both appointments have been approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC), with each appointee receiving a three-year tenure. The selection was finalised by a search-cum-selection committee headed by Cabinet Secretary T.V. Somanathan.
The Board is expected to become operational once the appointed officials formally assume charge. A third member may also be appointed subsequently.These appointments represent an important development in implementing the sports governance framework established under the National Sports Governance Act, 2025.
Who Is Devesh Chaturvedi?
Devesh Chaturvedi is a retired 1989-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the Uttar Pradesh cadre. He retired from government service on February 28, 2026, after an administrative career spanning more than three decades.
Before retirement, he served as Secretary, Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, under the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. He assumed the position in August 2024 and continued in the role until his superannuation.
Throughout his career, Chaturvedi held several significant positions in both the Uttar Pradesh government and the Central Government, gaining experience in district administration, personnel management, agriculture and public policy.His academic background is equally distinguished, combining engineering, industrial management and public administration.
Educational Qualifications of Devesh Chaturvedi
Chaturvedi’s educational qualifications include:
* Schooling: La Martiniere College, Lucknow.
* BTech: Mechanical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kanpur.
* MTech: Industrial Engineering from IIT Delhi.
* Postgraduate Diploma: Public Policy and Management from the Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Bangalore, completed in 2005.
* PhD: Management Studies from IIT Delhi, awarded in 2013.
He also received the Director’s Gold Medal during his postgraduate programme at IIM Bangalore.
Major Administrative Positions Held by Devesh Chaturvedi
During his IAS career, Chaturvedi served in several important assignments at the district, state and central levels. Some of his notable postings include:
1. District Magistrate in Six Uttar Pradesh Districts
Chaturvedi served as District Magistrate and Collector in several districts of Uttar Pradesh, including:
* Pithoragarh
* Deoria
* Bulandshahr
* Kanpur Dehat
* Gorakhpur
* Allahabad (now Prayagraj)
These assignments provided him with extensive experience in district administration, public service delivery and development-related responsibilities.
2. Divisional Commissioner, Allahabad
He subsequently served as Commissioner of the Allahabad Division. During his tenure, he was associated with the administration of the 2013 Kumbh Mela, one of the largest religious gatherings in the world.
3. Joint Secretary, Department of Personnel and Training
During his central deputation, Chaturvedi served as Joint Secretary in the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT).His responsibilities included matters relating to civil services, vigilance and international cooperation.
4. Additional Chief Secretary, Uttar Pradesh
In the Uttar Pradesh government, he held the position of Additional Chief Secretary, handling important portfolios, including Agriculture and Appointments and Personnel.He also served as Principal Secretary in the state administration.
5. Secretary, Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare
His final major assignment before retirement was as Secretary in the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.He held the position from August 2024 until February 28, 2026, when he superannuated from the IAS.
Who Is P.K. Garg, Appointed Member of the National Sports Board?
Commodore (Retd.) P.K. Garg has been appointed as a member of the National Sports Board alongside Devesh Chaturvedi.Garg previously served as Chief Executive Officer of the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), a flagship initiative of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.
The scheme is designed to identify and support India’s elite athletes by providing assistance for training, international exposure, coaching and preparations for major sporting competitions, including the Olympic Games.
His experience in sports administration and athlete development is expected to contribute to the functioning of the newly constituted Board.Both Chaturvedi and Garg have been appointed for a three-year term.
What Is the National Sports Board and What Are Its Powers?
The National Sports Board has been established under the National Sports Governance Act, 2025, to strengthen transparency, accountability and institutional governance in India’s sports administration.
The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports notified the National Sports Governance (National Sports Board) Rules, 2026, in May, specifying the Board’s composition, appointment procedures, tenure and service conditions.Under the prescribed framework, the Board will comprise a Chairperson and two Members.
Its principal responsibilities include:
* Recognition of Sports Federations: Granting recognition to National Sports Bodies and registering their affiliated units.
* Suspension and Cancellation: Suspending or cancelling recognition and registration of organisations that violate prescribed governance requirements.
* Financial Accountability: Examining cases involving the misuse, misapplication or misappropriation of public funds.
* Election Oversight: Taking action against sports organisations that fail to conduct executive committee elections or commit serious electoral irregularities.
* International Coordination: Engaging with international sports organisations to promote sports development and ensure compliance with global governance standards.
* Athlete Protection: Framing a Safe Sports Policy to safeguard women, minor athletes and other relevant groups.
Under What Circumstances Can the National Sports Board Suspend Recognition?
Section 10 of the National Sports Governance Act, 2025, empowers the Board to suspend or cancel recognition in specified circumstances.
These include:
1. Failure to conduct elections for an Executive Committee.
2. Serious irregularities in the election process.
3. Failure to publish annual audited financial accounts.
4. Misuse, misapplication or misappropriation of public funds.
5. Violation of the provisions of the Act, its rules or conditions attached to recognition.
However, the law also prescribes procedural safeguards. Before suspending or cancelling the recognition of a National Sports Federation or Regional Sports Federation, the Board must consult the concerned international sports body.
The concerned organisation must also be given an opportunity to address the deficiencies or present its case through a hearing, as provided under the statutory framework.
Another significant provision is that only sports organisations recognised under the statutory framework will be eligible to receive grants or other financial assistance from the Central Government.
National Sports Board and Other Sports Governance Institutions
The National Sports Board is one of the key institutional mechanisms envisaged under the National Sports Governance Act, 2025.The government has also taken steps towards establishing the National Sports Election Panel, which is tasked with supporting free, fair and transparent elections in national sports organisations.
With experienced administrators and sports professionals being brought into the institutional framework, the new appointments are expected to play an important role in strengthening accountability, transparency and governance across India’s sporting ecosystem.
