Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh flagged off the National Cadet Corps’ (NCC) All India Girls High Altitude Long Trek ‘Aparajita – Parang La 2026’ at an event in New Delhi on August 18, 2026, marking the beginning of a challenging expedition aimed at promoting courage, leadership, resilience and the spirit of Nari Shakti among young women.
The expedition will traverse the Parang La Pass at an altitude of 5,578 metres (18,300 feet), connecting Himachal Pradesh’s Spiti Valley with the Changthang region of Ladakh. The route is considered among India’s most challenging high-altitude trekking corridors.
A total of 28 NCC girl cadets, with an average age of 19 years, are participating in the expedition. The youngest participant is 16-and-a-half years old. The team will be led by women officers representing the Indian Army, Indian Navy and Indian Air Force.
The participants will cover approximately 250 kilometres over 30 days through some of the most remote and demanding terrain in the Himalayas. The expedition will take the cadets through high-altitude deserts, glaciers, snowfields and river valleys, testing their physical endurance and mental resilience.
The planned route includes Kibber, Dumla, Thaltak, Bongrojen, Parang La Pass, Dak Karzong, Norbu Sumdo, Kiangdom and Korzok, exposing the cadets to diverse and challenging Himalayan terrain.
Addressing the participants, Rajnath Singh described the expedition as a powerful demonstration of the courage, determination and growing capabilities of the nation’s women. He commended the cadets for undertaking an expedition that would test them physically and mentally while providing valuable lessons in leadership, confidence and self-discovery.
The Raksha Mantri highlighted the role of adventure activities in developing discipline, teamwork, leadership qualities and mental resilience among young people. He expressed confidence that the cadets would return from the expedition with memorable experiences and a deeper understanding of their own capabilities.
Rajnath Singh also urged the expedition team to give the highest priority to safety, environmental protection and respectful interaction with local communities. He advised the cadets to strictly follow the instructions of their instructors, avoid unnecessary risks and adopt a zero-waste approach to protect the fragile Himalayan ecosystem.
He further encouraged the participants to engage with local communities, understand their traditions and learn from their experiences during the expedition.
Highlighting the growing participation of NCC cadets in adventure activities across land, water and air, the Raksha Mantri praised the girl cadets for demonstrating the spirit of Nari Shakti by taking on leadership roles and challenging expeditions.
The participation of cadets drawn from NCC Directorates across the country also reflects the spirit of Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat. Cadets from diverse linguistic, cultural and regional backgrounds will undertake the demanding journey together with a common objective.
The expedition is being conducted in two phases. A preparatory and acclimatisation trek was first organised in the Bhaba-Pin Valley sector, following which the final team of NCC girl cadets was selected on merit.
‘Aparajita – Parang La 2026’ has been conceptualised to promote Nari Shakti, leadership, self-confidence, teamwork, endurance and national integration among NCC girl cadets. The demanding Himalayan expedition is expected to serve as both an adventure challenge and a platform for developing qualities that will remain valuable to the participants throughout their lives.
NCC Director General Lieutenant General Virendra Vats and senior officials from the NCC and Ministry of Defence were present during the flag-off ceremony.
