In a bureaucratic re-shuffle, Bhatnagar, a senior IAS office from the UP Cadre, was brought back to Sports Ministry. He will also hold the post of Director General of the Sports Authority of India.
Bhatnagar, who served as joint secretary in the Sports Ministry during the 2010 Commonwealth Games, told PTI that he has received the orders but will list out his priorities only after taking charge in about a week's time.
He was appointed UP Chief Secretary in September 2016 by then Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav.
Bhatnagar is not new to the Sports Ministry having served it in the capacity of Joint Secretary. He is also a former Director General of National Anti-Doping Agency.
He was part of the ministry when corruption charges had hit the Delhi 2010 CWG. All the bureaucrats were later cleared with a CBI inquiry pointing fingers to Congress leader Suresh Kalmadi.