Ram Mandir Trust appoints Air Marshal Mishra as first-ever CEO, Govind Dev Giri as General Secretary
Synopsis
For the first time since its formation, the Ram Mandir Trust has a professional CEO — an Air Force veteran chosen from over 5,000 candidates. The appointment of Air Marshal (Retd) Jeetendra Mishra, who commanded during Operation Sindoor, signals a deliberate pivot from construction-era management to institutional, military-grade governance of one of India's most significant religious sites.
Key Takeaways
The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust appointed Air Marshal (Retd) Jeetendra Mishra as its first-ever CEO on 2 September .
Mishra was selected from a pool of more than 5,000 candidates and brings over 39 years of Indian Air Force experience, including command during Operation Sindoor .
Swami Govind Dev Giri was elevated to General Secretary of the Trust.
Three new trustees inducted: businessman Mahesh Bhagchandka (also named Treasurer), advocate Madan Mohan Pandey , and educationist Nirmala Yadav .
The Trust commended outgoing internal General Secretary Krishna Mohan for managing a two-month interim period.
The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust on Wednesday, 2 September effected a sweeping administrative overhaul, naming Air Marshal (Retd) Jeetendra Mishra as its first-ever Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and elevating Swami Govind Dev Giri to the post of General Secretary. Three new trustees — Mahesh Bhagchandka, Madan Mohan Pandey, and Nirmala Yadav — were simultaneously inducted to fill vacant positions within the Trust.
Selection of the First CEO
Mishra's appointment came after a dedicated selection committee evaluated a pool of more than 5,000 candidates before recommending him to the Trust. The high-profile deliberations concluded at a Trust meeting in Ayodhya, where members publicly endorsed the Air Force veteran's more than 39 years of distinguished service. Commissioned into the Indian Air Force on 6 December 1986, Mishra is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy and notably served as a Commander during Operation Sindoor — India's military response to the Pakistan-sponsored Pahalgam terror attack.
What the CEO Role Entails
As CEO, Mishra will be the principal point of contact for the temple's day-to-day administration and financial management. His responsibilities will span temple management, security, staff administration, devotee facilities, and inter-departmental coordination. The Trust framed the appointment as a deliberate move to bring institutional rigour — drawn from military command experience — to one of India's most consequential religious establishments.
New Trustees: Who They Are
Mahesh Bhagchandka, 68, is a New Delhi-based businessman, social worker, and author of Hindutva Ke Purodha. He participated as Yajman (patron) during both the Bhoomi Pujan and the Pran-Pratishtha consecration ceremony of the Ram Temple, and has been associated with the installation of Shri Ram Stambhs at 292 sacred pilgrimage sites along the Shri Ram Van Gaman Yatra route. He also serves on the executive committee of the World Hindu Economic Forum. Bhagchandka will additionally take charge as the Trust's Treasurer.
Madan Mohan Pandey, 74, is an advocate and law graduate based in Ayodhya Cantonment. He represented Shri Ram Lalla Virajman and Mahant Ramchandra Paramhans Das in both the High Court and the Supreme Court in the Ram Janmabhoomi case from 1990 to 2019, and served as Additional Advocate General of Uttar Pradesh for six years.
Nirmala Yadav, 66, is a retired educationist holding a Master's degree and a PhD in Hindi and Sanskrit. She served as a college principal for 19 years and was a member of her university's Executive Council for 15 years.
Transition of Internal Leadership
The Trust publicly commended Krishna Mohan, the outgoing internal General Secretary, for shouldering responsibilities during what members described as a difficult and challenging two-month interim period. Swami Govind Dev Giri now assumes the General Secretary role, consolidating spiritual and administrative oversight within the Trust's new structure.
What Comes Next
With a professional CEO, a restructured board, and three new trustees bringing legal, academic, and business expertise, the Trust appears set to shift from its construction-phase mode toward long-term institutional governance. How swiftly Mishra can streamline the temple's financial and administrative apparatus — and how the new trustees shape policy — will be closely watched as the Ram Temple in Ayodhya cements its place as a major pilgrimage and cultural landmark.
Point of View
000 applicants — is a clear statement of intent: the Trust wants operational credibility, not just religious symbolism, at the helm. What is less clear is how military-style command culture will mesh with the complex web of religious, political, and administrative stakeholders that surrounds Ayodhya. The simultaneous induction of a legal veteran of the Ram Janmabhoomi case, a businessperson, and an academic signals a deliberate broadening of the Trust's institutional base — but the real test will be financial transparency and devotee management at scale, neither of which has a military template.
NationPress
2 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the first CEO of the Ram Mandir Trust?
Air Marshal (Retd) Jeetendra Mishra is the first-ever Chief Executive Officer of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, appointed on 2 September. He was commissioned into the Indian Air Force on 6 December 1986, served for over 39 years, and commanded during Operation Sindoor.
How was the Ram Temple CEO selected?
A dedicated selection committee evaluated more than 5,000 candidates before recommending Air Marshal (Retd) Jeetendra Mishra to the Trust. The Trust ratified the appointment during a high-profile meeting in Ayodhya on 2 September.
What are the CEO's responsibilities at the Ram Mandir?
The CEO will oversee temple administration, financial management, security, staff, devotee facilities, and coordination among departments and agencies. The role is designed to bring structured, professional governance to the temple's day-to-day operations.
Who are the three new trustees of the Ram Mandir Trust?
The three new trustees are Mahesh Bhagchandka (businessman and social worker, also named Treasurer), Madan Mohan Pandey (advocate who represented Ram Lalla in the Supreme Court case from 1990–2019), and Nirmala Yadav (retired educationist with a PhD in Hindi and Sanskrit).
What role does Swami Govind Dev Giri now hold in the Ram Mandir Trust?
Swami Govind Dev Giri has been elevated to General Secretary of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust as part of the 2 September administrative overhaul. He takes over from Krishna Mohan, who served as internal General Secretary during a two-month interim period.
