He joined the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in 1994 and served as its Superintendent of Police till 1998.

In September 2018, he was made Director General of SSB, succeeding Rajni Kant Mishra.

[5] On 31 October 2018, he was appointed as the Director General of Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP).

[2] Deswal also received the additional charge of DG of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in January 2020.

[8] In March, 2020, he was given the additional charge of the Director General of Border Security Force (BSF).