Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh Flags Off NCC's All India Girls High Altitude Long Trek 'Aparajita - Parang La 2026'

Key facts

• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh flagged off the NCC's All India Girls High Altitude Long Trek 'Aparajita - Parang La 2026' on August 18, 2026, at Kartavya Bhawan, New Delhi.
• The expedition comprises 28 NCC girl cadets led by three women military officers representing the three services.
• The team will trek nearly 250 km over 30 days through the Parang La Pass (5,578 m), connecting Himachal Pradesh's Spiti Valley with the Changthang region of Ladakh.
• The route traverses high-altitude deserts, glaciers, snowfields and river valleys, covering locations including Kibber, Dumla, Thaltak, Bongrojen, Parang La Pass, Dak Karzong, Norbu Sumdo, Kiangdom and Korzok.
• The average age of participating cadets is 19 years, with the youngest being 16-and-a-half years old.
• The expedition is conducted in two phases, with a preparatory and acclimatisation trek in the Bhaba-Pin Valley sector preceding the final selection.
• The trek aims to promote 'Nari Shakti', leadership qualities, self-confidence, teamwork, endurance and national integration among girl cadets.