Gangtok: Former IPS officer and noted mountaineering promoter S.T. Bhutia (IPS:2011:Sikkim) has been conferred with the first-ever Sikkim Mountaineering Association (SMA) Gold Medal 2026 for his exceptional contribution to mountaineering and adventure sports in the Himalayan state.
The prestigious honour was presented during the Everest Day Sikkim 2026 celebrations organised by the Sikkim Mountaineering Association. The award was handed over by state minister Raju Basnet in recognition of Bhutia’s long-standing efforts to promote mountaineering culture, adventure tourism and youth participation in outdoor sports across Sikkim.
First-Ever SMA Gold Medal Introduced
The Sikkim Mountaineering Association said the newly instituted SMA Gold Medal will now become an annual tradition to honour individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to mountaineering, adventure sports and Himalayan exploration.
By choosing S.T. Bhutia as the inaugural recipient, the association acknowledged his decades-long commitment towards strengthening mountaineering activities and adventure awareness in the region.
The Everest Day celebrations witnessed participation from mountaineers, trekkers, adventure enthusiasts and members of the sporting fraternity, many of whom praised Bhutia’s role in nurturing mountaineering talent and promoting Sikkim as a key adventure destination in India.
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Former IPS Officer with Strong Sports Leadership Role
S.T. Bhutia is a retired Indian Police Service (IPS) officer of the Sikkim cadre. He officially joined the IPS on September 14, 2011, and served in various policing and administrative capacities during his career.
Apart from his policing responsibilities, Bhutia emerged as one of the leading faces of adventure sports promotion in Sikkim through his long association with the Sikkim Mountaineering Association.
He served as President of the association and played a significant role in encouraging youth participation in mountaineering, trekking expeditions and adventure-based activities in the Himalayan region.
Recipient of National Police Honours
During his career in law enforcement, S.T. Bhutia also received several national honours for his service.
He was awarded the Police Service Medal in 2016 and later received the prestigious President’s Police Medal for Meritorious Service (PPMS) in recognition of his contributions to policing and public service.
Boost to Adventure Tourism and Youth Engagement
Adventure sports experts and mountaineering enthusiasts in Sikkim noted that Bhutia’s initiatives helped strengthen awareness around mountain safety, trekking culture and sustainable adventure tourism in the ecologically sensitive Himalayan state.
His contribution is also credited with inspiring young people in Sikkim to participate in mountaineering and allied sports at both national and international levels.
The institution of the SMA Gold Medal is being seen as a major step towards formally recognising contributions to adventure sports and Himalayan exploration in the region.
