Why in News?
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh flagged off the NCC’s all-India girls’ high-altitude trek ‘Aparajita – Parang La 2026’. A team of 28 girl cadets, led by three women military officers, will cover nearly 250 km in 30 days across the Himalayas.
Key Points
- The trek will cross Parang La Pass, located at 5,578 metres (18,300 ft).
- The route connects Spiti Valley in Himachal Pradesh with Changthang in Ladakh.
- The cadets will pass through high-altitude deserts, glaciers, snowfields and river valleys.
- The route includes Kibber, Dumla, Thaltak, Bongrojen, Parang La, Norbu Sumdo, Kiangdom and Korzok.
- The cadets have an average age of 19 years, with the youngest participant aged 16½ years.
- The expedition aims to develop leadership, discipline, teamwork, endurance and self-confidence among the cadets.
- The expedition also focuses on Nari Shakti, national integration and respect for the Himalayan environment and local communities.
