The All-India Chess Federation (AICF) has unanimously nominated All Odisha Chess Association (AOCA) President Ranjan Kumar Mohanty as its Joint-Secretary. This was done at the Central Council and Special General Body meeting of the AICF in Jaipur, Rajasthan on 23 September 2021.

Mohanty, also an international rated chess player, FIDE Instructor, FIDE Arbiter and  Income Tax Officer, replaced former Bengal Chess Association office-bearer Atanu Lahiri, who was suspended as joint secretary for three years for anti-federation activity. Mohanty became the first Odia to be nominated as an office-bearer of the AICF.

It was decided in the AICF meeting that the National Chess Academy would be set up at KIIT and KISS University campus in Bhubaneshwar.