Ayodhya, August 12, 2026: Search Committee constituted to select the next Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra has completed the final round of interviews, bringing the selection process to its concluding stage.
The final interviews were held at the Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra campus in Ayodhya on August 11 and 12, according to a press statement issued by the Search Committee. The committee has evaluated candidates through a multi-stage screening process involving thousands of applicants from different professional backgrounds.
Three-member Search Committee
The selection process is being overseen by a three-member Search Committee comprising:
- Justice (Retd.) Permod Kohli
- Lieutenant General (Retd.) V.K. Chaturvedi, PVSM, AVSM, SM, Veteran
- Dr. Suresh Hawre, Nuclear Scientist
The committee brings experience from the fields of judiciary, defence and administration, which was used to assess candidates for the senior institutional leadership position.
5,585 applications received
The selection process began with 5,585 applications. Of these, 3,877 applications included detailed Curricula Vitae (CVs). Applicants were asked to provide information about their:
- Management experience
- Experience in handling large events and personnel
- Professional and personal achievements
- Language proficiency
- Vision for the role
- Strategic plans
The committee subsequently conducted a detailed evaluation of the submissions.
111 candidates invited for online interaction
After the initial screening, 1,580 candidates whose submissions were comprehensively evaluated moved to the next stage.
From this group, approximately 111 candidates were invited for online interactions conducted over several days. The online assessment focused on communication skills, professional experience, vision, personality, leadership qualities and technological knowledge.
16 candidates reached final stage
Following the online assessment, 16 candidates were shortlisted for face-to-face interaction in Ayodhya. The selected candidates came from a range of professional backgrounds, including:
- Defence and Army veterans
- Retired IAS and IPS officers
- Corporate and industrial sectors
- Education
- Information Technology
- Other government and non-government services
The 16 candidates represented less than 0.3% of the total applicants. According to the committee, the candidates were between 50 and 70 years of age.
Final interviews completed
The final face-to-face interactions were conducted at the Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra campus on August 11 and 12. During this stage, candidates were assessed on management ability, personality, vision, strategic planning, technology expertise and leadership potential.
The completion of the interviews marks the end of the committee's multi-stage candidate evaluation process. The press statement did not announce the name of the selected CEO.
The committee said the process was designed as a rigorous, transparent and comprehensive evaluation to identify the most suitable candidate for the CEO position.
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Ram Janmbhoomi Trust CEO, Ayodhya, Ram Temple Trust, CEO selection, Search Committee, Ram Janmbhoomi, Citizen News Puttur