Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, an eminent Ayurvedic physician and Padma Shri awardee, serves as the Secretary, Ministry of AYUSH (Administrative Head) in the Government of India since July 2017. As the top administrative officer, he oversees all AYUSH systems, research councils, and national institutes. Under his leadership, the Ministry has expanded global collaborations, launched the AYUSH Grid, and established the WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine in Jamnagar, positioning India as a global leader in holistic and traditional healthcare.
COVID-19 & Global Wellness Advocacy
2020 – Present |
💊 Led AYUSH initiatives during the COVID-19 pandemic — promoting immunity-based Ayurveda interventions and clinical research
🤝 Partnered with global health bodies for evidence-based AYUSH studies
🌿 Oversaw expansion of AYUSH Wellness Centres and inclusion of Yoga in global health discussions under UN International Yoga Day
Secretary, Ministry of AYUSH
July 2017 – Present |
📅 Appointed: 13 July 2017
🏛️ Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India
👔 Role: Secretary (Administrative Head) — overall in charge of ministry administration, coordination, and policy implementation
🧾 Key Responsibilities:
Overseeing AYUSH systems: Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Sowa Rigpa, and Homoeopathy
Supervising all AYUSH research councils (CCRAS, CCRH, CCRUM, CCRS, CCRYN)
Managing National Institutes like AIIA (Delhi), NIA (Jaipur), NIH (Kolkata), NIS (Chennai), and others
🌱 Major Achievements:
Spearheaded India’s global Ayurveda outreach during the World Ayurveda Congress
Implemented AYUSH Grid, a digital platform integrating research, education, and healthcare
Strengthened the Pharmacopoeia Commission for Indian Medicine & Homoeopathy (PCIM&H) for drug quality standards
🌍 Expanded collaboration with WHO, leading to the establishment of the Global Centre for Traditional Medicine in Jamnagar (GCTM)
Special Advisor and Policy Contributor
2014 – 2017 |
🏛️ Worked closely with Ministry of AYUSH on policy reforms and research collaboration frameworks
🧾 Focused on:
National AYUSH Mission rollout
International promotion of Ayurveda and Yoga
Standardization of AYUSH drug manufacturing and clinical practices
🌿 Helped design AYUSH components within the National Health Policy (2017)
Leadership in Ayurveda & Public Health
2000 – 2014 |
👔 CEO & Managing Director: Chakrapani Ayurveda Institute – leading education and research programs for global practitioners
🌍 Promoted international cooperation in Ayurveda, organizing global training sessions in Europe, the U.S., and Asia
🧩 Contributed to national policy discussions on AYUSH education, pharmacopoeia, and quality control
💬 Advocated the standardization of Ayurvedic drugs and digital access to classical texts
Clinical & Academic Career
1990s – 2000s
🏛️ Founder and Physician: Chakrapani Ayurveda Clinic & Research Centre, Jaipur
🌱 Developed evidence-based Ayurvedic treatment protocols integrating classical wisdom with modern research
📚 Authored several books and scientific papers on Ayurveda and holistic health
🏆 Received the Padma Shri Award (2015) for his outstanding contribution to the field of Ayurvedic medicine
Early Life & Education
📍 Birthplace: Gujarat, India
🎓 Education:
Bachelor of Ayurveda Medicine & Surgery (BAMS) – Gujarat Ayurved University, Jamnagar
Doctor of Medicine (M.D. in Ayurveda) – Gujarat Ayurved University
Advanced training in integrative medicine and management of chronic diseases
🌿 A distinguished Ayurvedic physician, researcher, author, and educationist with deep commitment to modernizing Ayurveda for global relevance