New Delhi – The Centre has extended the tenure of Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary, Ministry of Ayush, by one year, marking his fourth extension in the post since he first took charge in 2017.
His current tenure, which was set to end on June 28, 2025, will now continue until June 28, 2026, the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions announced on Tuesday.
Mr Kotecha was a lateral entrant into the civil service and is part of the 2017 lateral entry batch.
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) approved the extension on a contract basis, maintaining the existing terms and conditions of his appointment.
Read Also: AYUSH Secretary Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha Receives Third One-Year Extension
Lateral Entry Specialist in a Key Role
Mr Kotecha is one of the rare examples of a lateral entry appointee – professionals brought into the government from outside the traditional civil services cadre. His appointment in 2017 marked a significant departure from the convention of appointing career bureaucrats to senior government posts. Initially designated as Special Secretary, he was later promoted to Secretary in the Ayush Ministry.
Multiple Extensions Since 2020
Kotecha’s tenure was first extended in 2020 for two years, followed by another two-year extension in 2022. In June 2024, he received a one-year extension, which was scheduled to end in June 2025. The latest extension will now take his term up to June 28, 2026.
Before joining the ministry, Kotecha served as Chief Consultant at Chakrapani Ayurveda Clinic in Jaipur and was widely respected in the field of Ayurveda. His inclusion in the top leadership of the ministry was aimed at bringing specialized expertise into policy-making for India’s traditional systems of medicine.
About the Ministry of Ayush
The Ministry of Ayush – an acronym for Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homoeopathy – was established on November 9, 2014, to promote and revive India’s ancient systems of medicine through structured education, research, and integration with modern healthcare.
The ministry evolved from the Department of Indian System of Medicine and Homoeopathy (ISM&H), which was set up in 1995 under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
Mr Kotecha’s tenure has seen increased focus on research, standardization, and international collaboration in traditional medicine systems, aligning with the government’s broader mission to globalize India’s ancient health wisdom.
