https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Ayush Secretary Rajesh Kotecha Gets One-Year Extension Till June 2026; Fourth Extension Since 2017 – Know More About Him

Mr Kotecha was a lateral entrant into the civil service and is part of the 2017 lateral entry batch.
Indian Masterminds Stories

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.


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
BRICS
India Deepens Defence and Nuclear Cooperation with Argentina and Brazil
railone-app-indian-railways
Indian Railways Launches ‘RailOne’ Super App in Collaboration with IRCTC to Redefine Passenger Experience
K6 Missile
India Set to Test K-6: Hypersonic Missile to Boost Submarine Strike Power
RCB Parade Stampede
Chinnaswamy Stampede Fallout: CAT Cancels Suspension of IPS Vikas Kumar in Stampede Case, Orders Full Service Benefits
canara bank
Canara Bank Turns 120: Celebrates Legacy with Zero-Balance Revolution and Digital Innovation
IREDA logo 1
Result: IREDA Reports 31% Surge in Q1 FY26 Loan Disbursements, Loan Book Nears Rs 80,000 Crore, Boosting India’s Renewable Push
Ministry of Coal (resized)
Ministry of Coal to Launch Exploration Module on SWCS Portal: A Major Leap in Digitizing Coal Sector Approvals
CM Mohan
Madhya Pradesh Cabinet Approves Key Development Schemes Under CM Mohan Yadav’s Leadership
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
Inderjit Singh Air India
Is Air India Carrying The Burden of Split Before Privatisation?
Ex IRS C Rajendiran
Ex-IRS Officer C. Rajendiran Illuminates Thirukkural’s Timeless Wisdom in Exclusive Interview
WhatsApp Image 2025-06-25 at 5.07
Why Has the DGCA Fined Air India Rs 5 Crore Since Privatisation?
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
IPS Deepak Meghani
Deepak Meghani, IPS: A Journey of Focus, Failure, and Quiet Discipline
A passionate writer, he has authored several books in Gujarati, ranging from exam strategy guides to...
Sanish Kumar Singh
“If you want it badly enough, you’ll find a way,” Sanish Kumar Singh AIR 8, UPSC IFS 2024 
The real interview, he says, was much more humane. “The board was conversational. The chairman opened...
Raju Wagh
When the Battlefield Became a Study Room and a Dream Took Flight
Amid IED blasts and anti-Maoist operations in Bastar, CRPF Commando Raju Wagh taught village kids, studied...
Social Media
Shailaja Chandra
“Nanis & Dadis Have a Brain”: Former IAS Officer Shailaja Chandra Weighs in on 1970s vs 2025 Life Debate - “This Generation Has It Better”
Responding to Viral Post on Middle-Class Struggles, Ex-Bureaucrat Offers Candid Reflection on Then and...
Tigress Arrowhead
The End of an Era: A Queen Falls - Ranthambore’s Iconic Tigress Arrowhead (T-84) Passes Away at 14, Hours After Daughter’s Relocation
Ranthambore mourns the loss of one of its fiercest and most beloved tigers, Arrowhead, the granddaughter...
Screenshot 2025-06-13 194001
Wild Elephant Disrupts Riverside Picnic, Sparks Debate on Human Encroachment; IFS Parveen Kumar Shares the Video - Watch Here!
Mr. Kaswan used the viral video, which has garnered over 1.5 lakh views, to highlight the risks of human...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
BRICS
India Deepens Defence and Nuclear Cooperation with Argentina and Brazil
railone-app-indian-railways
Indian Railways Launches ‘RailOne’ Super App in Collaboration with IRCTC to Redefine Passenger Experience
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
Inderjit Singh Air India
Ex IRS C Rajendiran
WhatsApp Image 2025-06-25 at 5.07
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT