Transfers & Postings · eGov
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved Chaturvedi, a 1989-batch UP-cadre IAS officer, and former TOPS CEO Commodore P K Garg as the first members of the newly constituted statutory body.
✦ AI SUMMARY 30-second read
- Devesh Chaturvedi, who retired on February 28, 2026 as Secretary of the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, will chair the National Sports Board for three years.
- Commodore (Retd.) P K Garg, former CEO of the Target Olympic Podium Scheme, has been appointed as a member of the Board for the same tenure.
- A search-cum-selection committee headed by Cabinet Secretary T V Somanathan finalised both appointments; a third member may follow at a later stage.
Why it matters: The appointments move the statutory sports governance framework established under the National Sports Governance Act, 2025 closer to full operationalisation.
This summary was generated by AI. Editors may review and update it.
Retired IAS officer Devesh Chaturvedi has been appointed Chairman of the National Sports Board (NSB), the statutory body established under the National Sports Governance Act, 2025 to oversee the recognition and governance of national sports organisations. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet approved the posting.
Alongside Chaturvedi, Commodore (Retd.) P K Garg, former Chief Executive Officer of the Target Olympic Podium Scheme, has been named a member of the Board. Both appointees will hold office for three years. Their selection was finalised by a search-cum-selection committee chaired by Cabinet Secretary T V Somanathan.
The Board is expected to begin functioning once both officials assume charge. The government has indicated that a third member may be appointed at a later stage.
The key appointments
Chaturvedi is a 1989-batch IAS officer of the Uttar Pradesh cadre. His final central government assignment was as Secretary in the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, a post he held from August 2024 until his retirement on February 28, 2026. He brings to the NSB chairmanship a career spanning district administration, state government and central deputation.
Garg's appointment adds direct experience in sports administration. As CEO of the Target Olympic Podium Scheme, he was involved in supporting India's elite athletes and their preparations for international competition. His three-year term runs concurrently with Chaturvedi's.
Background
The National Sports Board was created under the National Sports Governance Act, 2025. The Union Government notified the National Sports Governance (National Sports Board) Rules, 2026 in May, setting out the Board's composition, appointment procedure, tenure and service conditions. The Board's mandate includes granting and cancelling recognition of national sports bodies, examining cases of misuse of public funds, overseeing election processes within sports organisations and framing a Safe Sports Policy.
Under Section 10 of the Act, the Board may suspend or cancel recognition in circumstances such as failure to hold executive committee elections, serious election irregularities, non-publication of audited accounts, or misappropriation of public funds. The law requires the Board to consult the relevant international sports body and provide an opportunity for a hearing before any such action.
The NSB is one of several institutional mechanisms under the Act. The government has also advanced work on the National Sports Election Panel and has provided for a National Sports Tribunal to adjudicate sports-related disputes. The Indian Olympic Association, however, has raised objections; IOA President P T Usha has expressed concern that the Board's establishment could affect the association's position in India's sports governance structure.
What happens next
The Board will become operational once Chaturvedi and Garg assume charge. With the chairperson and one member now in place, the government may proceed to fill the remaining seat. Only sports organisations recognised under the statutory framework will be eligible for grants or other financial assistance from the Central Government.
About the officer
Devesh Chaturvedi
| Service | IAS · 1989 batch · Uttar Pradesh |
|---|---|
| New post | Chairman, National Sports Board |
| Previous post | Secretary, Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare |
| Education | BTech in Mechanical Engineering from IIT Kanpur; MTech in Industrial Engineering from IIT Delhi; Postgraduate Diploma in Public Policy and Management from IIM Bangalore (Director's Gold Medal, 2005); PhD in Management Studies from IIT Delhi (2013); schooling at La Martiniere College, Lucknow. |
| Career so far | Chaturvedi served as District Magistrate in several UP districts including Gorakhpur and Allahabad, and as Divisional Commissioner of Allahabad Division. At the central level he served as Joint Secretary in the Department of Personnel and Training, and held the posts of Additional Chief Secretary and Principal Secretary in the Uttar Pradesh government before his final assignment as Secretary, Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare from August 2024 to February 2026. |
| Notable work | He was associated with the administration of the 2013 Kumbh Mela during his tenure as Divisional Commissioner, Allahabad. |