Retired Air Marshal Jeetendra Mishra Appointed First CEO of Ayodhya Ram Temple Trust

Economy8 sourcesSep 2, 2026

5 placedFactual rigor 43/100

The Story

Retired Air Marshal Jeetendra Mishra has been appointed the first CEO of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust.

The former senior Indian Air Force officer was hired to the top executive position as the organization in charge of the Ayodhya Ram Mandir overhauls its administration. Mishra will oversee the temple complex’s operations, security, crowd management, infrastructure, and remaining construction. His appointment was approved unanimously at a meeting of the temple trust in Ayodhya on September 2.

Mishra retired on April 30 this year after serving for more than 38 years as a fighter combat leader and experimental test pilot. He was commissioned as a fighter pilot in the IAF on December 6, 1986, and has over 3,000 hours of flying experience. Mishra served as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Western Air Command during Operation Sindoor and directed air operations during the mission, ensuring air superiority.

He was awarded the Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medal for his role in Operation Sindoor. Mishra is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy in Pune, the Air Force Test Pilots School in Bengaluru, the Air Command and Staff College in the United States, and the Royal College of Defence Studies in the UK. He hails from Deoria district of Uttar Pradesh.

Mishra expressed gratitude to Lord Ram, stating, mai Shri Ram ka abhari hu (I'm grateful to Lord Ram). He added, "I consider this a great fortune that they chose me from so many candidates. I also consider this the blessings of Lord Ram that after 43 years of service to the nation in the Air Force, He has given me the opportunity to serve Sri Ram Mandir and Sri Ram bhakts."

The appointment comes amid a controversy over alleged theft of donations at the Ram temple, which led to the arrest of eight people and the resignation of Champat Rai as general secretary in June. The trust received 5,585 applications for the CEO post. A selection committee, comprising retired Justice Pramod Kohli, Lieutenant General (retired) V.K. Chaturvedi, and nuclear scientist Suresh Haware, shortlisted 16 candidates for face-to-face interviews in Ayodhya.

What they agree on

Retired Air Marshal Jeetendra Mishra has been appointed as the first CEO of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust.
Mishra served in the Indian Air Force for nearly four decades, including as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Western Air Command during Operation Sindoor.
His appointment follows a selection process that involved 5,585 applications and a high-powered committee.
The appointment comes amid a controversy regarding alleged theft of donations at the Ram temple.
The trust also appointed Govind Dev Giri as the new full-time General Secretary and Mahesh Bhagchandka as the new Treasurer.

Where they split

OpIndia and India Today provide extensive biographical details about Jeetendra Mishra, including his military career and educational background.
Hindustan Times and News18 focus on Mishra's initial reaction to the appointment and his statements of gratitude.
LiveMint and Deccan Chronicle detail the rigorous selection process for the CEO position, including the number of applicants and interview stages.
Some sources, like Hindustan Times and India Today, explicitly link the new appointments to the donation theft controversy, while others mention it as background.