The Department of Sport & Youth Welfare was created in the year 1988-89 with the objective of bringing about all round development in the field of Sport & Youth Welfare. However, the Directorate of Sport & Youth Welfare, Assam was created much earlier. Late Bhupendra Nath Baruah, ACS, took over charge as the first Directorate of Sports & Youth Welfare, Assam, on 17th October 1976. The Directorate of Sports & Youth Welfare, Assam, actually started functioning from the financial year 1977-78. The Directorate was formally made regular from the financial year 1982-83.

Before the creation of the Sport & Youth Welfare Department, the Directorate of Sports & Youth Welfare was under the Education (CTM) Department. With the creation of the Sport & Youth Welfare Department, a boost was given to the development of Sport & Youth Welfare activities. This was made possible due to regular flow of funds to the Directorate of Sports & Youth Welfare for implementation of different schemes for the development of Sport & Youth Welfare in the State.