Defence Minister flags off expedition to Mt. Everest and Mt Kangchenjunga from national capital

By  News On Air   Apr 03, 2025

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh today flagged off expeditions to Mount Everest and Mount Kangchenjunga from South Block, New Delhi.

Interacting with the mountaineers, Mr. Singh commended their courage, dedication, and determination. He expressed confidence that these expeditions will inspire the youth and underscore India’s leadership in high-altitude mountaineering.

The Indian Army’s Mount Everest expedition, comprising 34 climbers, will follow the traditional South Col Route, and will be led by Lieutenant Colonel Manoj Joshi. The joint Indo-Nepal expedition, which aims to scale Mount Kangchenjunga, will feature 12 mountaineers from the Indian Army and six from the Nepali Army. It will be led by Colonel Sarfaraz Singh of the Indian Army. Additionally, a joint NCC expedition to Mount Everest will be led by Colonel Amit Bisht.

The team consists of five girl cadets, five boy cadets, four officers and 11 permanent instructors staff. Scheduled to commence this month, the teams aim to reach their respective summits by May 2025.