Former cricketer Chetan Chauhan is now Chairman of NIFT

Chetan Chauhan, a former cricketer and two-time BJP MP, has been appointed as the Chairman of the prestigious National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT).

Screenshot of the official website of NIFT (Image Courtesy: NIFT website)

The NIFT Act 2006 says that the Chairperson of the Board of Governors should be “an eminent academician, scientist or technologist or professional, to be appointed by the Visitor” of the institute, which happens to be the President of India. The Act further states that the tenure of appointment of the Chairperson is for three years.

Chauhan also holds the position of vice-president of the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA), is a senior BCCI official, and runs a cricket academy as well as a printing press (Coral Newsprint). However, he claimed that he would have time for all his roles.

Thanking PM Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah for his appointment, Chauhan told the Indian Express that the Ministry of Textiles recommended his name for the post because he was an "international sportsman" and has "experience in banking". 

Not really known to be an authority on fashion, Chauhan was quoted saying he believed in being well dressed, not flamboyant. "I am not dashing fashion-oriented because I have to go with what suits my age. But I like to dress up smartly and well,” he told the daily.