# Ram Mandir CEO race narrows to three from 5,585 applicants 2026-08-13T00:15:00+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 2 independent outlets The selection committee for the Ram Mandir’s first full-time CEO will recommend three names to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust after final interviews in Ayodhya on August 11-12. The process began with 5,585 applications, whittled down to 16 or 18 finalists, the two sources disagree on the number. India Today reports 16 finalists; Times Now says 18. Candidates included former IAS and IPS officers, army veterans and corporate professionals, aged 50-70. Times Now reports that candidates were asked about their faith in Lord Ram, whether they wear the sacred thread (janeu), their food and liquor habits, and if they consider themselves “hardline Hindus”. The committee, comprising retired Justice Pramod Kohli, Lt Gen (retired) V K Chaturvedi and nuclear scientist Dr Suresh Haware, assessed management skills and vision. The appointment follows allegations of embezzlement of temple donations, with eight arrests and three officials resigning, according to Times Now. ## Coverage - indiatoday.in - timesnownews.com Tags: appointment, Ayodhya, CEO selection, India Today report, Ram Mandir, Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/ram-mandir-ceo-race-narrows-to-three-after-5585-applied/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/ram-mandir-ceo-race-narrows-to-three-after-5585-applied/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.