New Delhi: Marking a proud moment for the nation, the National Cadet Corps (NCC) successfully completed its third expedition to Mount Everest, with a team of young cadets reaching the summit on May 18, 2025. The highlight of this remarkable achievement: the team featured the youngest group of climbers in NCC’s history, with an average age of just 19 years.
The expedition team comprised 10 cadets (5 boys and 5 girls), accompanied by 4 Officers, 2 Junior Commissioned Officers (JCOs), 1 Girl Cadet Instructor, and 10 Non-Commissioned Officers (NCOs). These cadets, selected from across the country, were complete novices when they joined the program.
As part of their rigorous preparation, the cadets first undertook a pre-Everest expedition to Mt Abi Gamin. Following this, 15 cadets were shortlisted for technical and winter training at the Army Mountaineering Institute and the Siachen Base Camp, after which the final 10 cadets were chosen for the Everest summit.
During acclimatisation, the team’s fitness, discipline, and morale drew praise even from seasoned Sherpas in Nepal. Braving extreme weather and treacherous terrain, the cadets triumphantly unfurled the Tricolour and the NCC Flag at the world’s highest peak, symbolizing national pride, youth strength, and resilience.
The expedition was flagged off on April 3, 2025, by Raksha Mantri Mr Rajnath Singh from New Delhi. This marks the third successful ascent of Mount Everest by an NCC team, following previous summits in 2013 and 2016.
This milestone not only demonstrates the spirit of adventure and patriotism instilled by the NCC but also showcases the potential of India’s youth when given the right opportunity and training.
