2 weeks ago
Rajnath Singh flags off 'Aparajita' NCC girl cadets' Himalayan expedition
A very important leader in India, called the Defence Minister, started a special hiking trip for 28 teenage girls.
The girls are part of the NCC, a youth group that teaches discipline and adventure skills.
They will walk about 250 kilometres in the Himalayan mountains over 30 days.
Their path goes over Parang La Pass, a very high mountain pass 5,578 metres above sea level, where it is cold and hard to breathe.
The trip is called 'Aparajita', which means undefeated or unconquered.
Most of the girls are around 19 years old, and the youngest is only 16 and a half.
Three brave women officers from the army, navy and air force will lead them.
The girls will cross high-altitude deserts, glaciers, snowfields and river valleys on this tough journey.
The trip shows that girls are strong and can do hard things while learning teamwork and confidence.
The girls are also asked to keep the mountains clean, stay safe, and be friendly with the local people they meet.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh flagged off the NCC's all-India girls' high-altitude expedition 'Aparajita-Parang La 2026' at a ceremony in New Delhi on August 18.
The expedition is a nearly 250-km trek over 30 days across Parang La Pass (5,578 m), which connects Himachal Pradesh's Spiti Valley with Ladakh's Changthang region.
The team comprises 28 NCC girl cadets with an average age of 19 and the youngest at 16-and-a-half years, led by three women officers from the Army, Navy and Air Force.
The route passes through Kibber, Dumla, Thaltak, Bongrojen, Parang La, Dak Karzong, Norbu Sumdo, Kiangdom and Korzok, covering high-altitude deserts, glaciers, snowfields and river valleys.
The expedition follows a preparatory acclimatisation trek in the Bhaba-Pin Valley, after which the final team was selected on merit to promote 'Nari Shakti', leadership and national integration.
- Who
- Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, NCC Director General Lieutenant General Virendra Vats, senior officials of the National Cadet Corps (NCC) and Ministry of Defence, and 28 NCC girl cadets led by three women officers from the Army, Navy and Air Force.
- What
- Flagging off of 'Aparajita-Parang La 2026', a nearly 250-km, 30-day high-altitude expedition across Parang La Pass.
- Where
- New Delhi, at the flag-off ceremony; the trek runs from Himachal Pradesh's Spiti Valley through Parang La Pass into the Changthang region of Ladakh.
- When
- August 18 (Tuesday), 2026.
- Why
- To promote 'Nari Shakti' (women's empowerment), leadership qualities, self-confidence, teamwork, endurance and national integration among NCC girl cadets.
Key facts
- Expedition name
- Aparajita-Parang La 2026
- Flagged off by
- Defence Minister Rajnath Singh
- Participants
- 28 NCC girl cadets (average age 19; youngest 16.5 years)
- Leadership
- Three women officers from the Army, Navy and Air Force
- Distance and duration
- Nearly 250 km over 30 days
- Highest point
- Parang La Pass at 5,578 m (18,300 ft)
- Route
- Spiti Valley (Himachal Pradesh) to Changthang (Ladakh)
- Preparatory phase
- Acclimatisation trek in Bhaba-Pin Valley; final team selected on merit
Quotes
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh
India's Defence Minister
“"Strictly follow the guidance of instructors, avoid unnecessary risks, and adopt a zero‑waste approach to protect the Himalayan ecology. Engage respectfully with local communities, understand their culture and traditions, and learn from their experiences. The expedition would become a defining milestone in your lives and inspire you to remain ‘Aparajita’ at every stage of life."”
theprint.in
“Adventure expeditions such as these help develop leadership, mental resilience, discipline, teamwork and self-confidence among young people.”
thestatesman.com
Sources
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