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19 July 2026

Ayodhya Ram Temple management

The topic provides a practical case study on the challenges of transparency, accountability, and probity in the management of large-scale public-facing trusts, which is useful for illustrating governance and ethics answers.

1 min read Day 16 of 28 2 questions 1 prelims

Notes

  • The Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra (SRJBTK) is the trust responsible for the management of the Ram temple in Ayodhya.
  • The temple construction cost approximately ₹1,900 crore and took seven years to complete.
  • Allegations of financial irregularities involving the theft of donation money from counting tables led to an internal inquiry and the filing of an FIR.
  • The Uttar Pradesh government established a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the embezzlement.
  • The investigation has resulted in eight arrests, the seizure of ₹80 lakh in cash, and the freezing of 30 bank accounts linked to the accused.
  • The State Bank of India (SBI) provided oversight for temple financial transactions during the period under investigation.
  • The incident has raised concerns regarding the governance structure of the temple trust, with debates emerging over the potential appointment of a CEO versus the traditional management by religious seers.
  • The local economy of Ayodhya is heavily dependent on faith-driven tourism, which is experiencing uncertainty following the reports of financial mismanagement.

Part of a longer story

This is day 16 of 28 in Ram Temple donation embezzlement investigation, which has been running since 24 June 2026. Reading it whole is usually worth more than reading today alone — the exam asks how something developed.

Questions

  1. Discuss the challenges associated with the governance and financial transparency of large-scale religious trusts in India. How can institutional mechanisms be strengthened to ensure accountability while respecting the sanctity of religious institutions? 150 words
    Attempt this — 150 words in 8 min
    0 / 150 words 8:00
  2. The rise of faith-based tourism has significant implications for local urban development and economic sustainability. Analyze the socio-economic impact of such tourism models on pilgrimage towns and the necessity of robust administrative frameworks to manage the influx of pilgrims and donations. 250 words
    Attempt this — 250 words in 11 min
    0 / 250 words 11:00

Prelims

  1. Which body is responsible for the management of the Ram temple in Ayodhya?

Syllabus

Topics

Sources

250words.in · https://250words.in/daily/2026-07-19/ayodhya-ram-temple-management