**Executive Summary**
The Raksha Mantri flagged off a joint expedition to Argentina's Mt. Aconcagua on February 5, 2026. The expedition is undertaken by the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering (NIM), Uttarkashi, and Jawahar Institute of Mountaineering & Winter Sports (JIM&WS), Pahalgam. The journey will commence on February 06, 2026, and the expedition is expected to conclude by the end of the month.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Expedition Details:**
* Joint expedition to Mt. Aconcagua in Argentina.
* Mt. Aconcagua is the highest peak of South America and the highest mountain outside Asia (6,961 meters).
* Undertaken by NIM and JIM&WS.
* Commencement: February 6, 2026.
* Expected Conclusion: End of February 2026.
* **Team Composition:**
* Six-member team of highly-trained instructors:
* Col Hem Chandra Singh
* Capt G Santhosh Kumar
* Shri Deep Bahadur Sahi
* Shri Vinod Gusain
* Nb Sub Bhupinder Singh
* Hav Ramesh Kumar
* **Objectives and Significance:**
* To test physical endurance, leadership, teamwork, and mental resilience.
* To contribute to safer and more effective training of youth, Armed Forces personnel, and adventure enthusiasts.
* To symbolise India's growing presence in global adventure and mountain exploration.
**Impact Analysis**
**NIM and JIM&WS**
* **Impact:** Responsible for preparing the personnel for the challenges of scaling Mt. Aconcagua.
* **Action Required:** Ensure the team is well-prepared and equipped for the expedition.
**Expedition Team Members**
* **Impact:** Will face challenges testing their physical endurance, leadership, teamwork, and mental resilience. They will gain experience and confidence.
* **Action Required:** Successfully complete the expedition and contribute to the nation's pride.
**Youth, Armed Forces personnel, and adventure enthusiasts**
* **Impact:** Will benefit from the knowledge and experience gained from the expedition, leading to safer and stronger training programs.
* **Action Required:** Utilize the expedition's outcomes to enhance training and exploration opportunities.
Key Entities Referenced
Raksha Mantri: The Defence Minister of India, Shri Rajnath Singh, who flagged off the expedition.
Mount Aconcagua: The mountain in Argentina, South America, and the destination of the joint expedition.
Nehru Institute of Mountaineering (NIM), Uttarkashi: One of the mountaineering institutes involved in the joint expedition.
Jawahar Institute of Mountaineering & Winter Sports (JIM&WS), Pahalgam: One of the mountaineering institutes involved in the joint expedition.
Ministry of Defence: The government ministry overseeing the expedition.
Ministry of Defence
Raksha Mantri flags-off NIM-JIM&WS joint
expedition to Argentina’s Mt Aconcagua
Physical endurance, leadership, teamwork & mental
resilience define India’s finest mountaineers: Shri Rajnath
Singh
Posted On: 05 FEB 2026 12:51PM by PIB Delhi
Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh flagged-off a joint expedition to Mount Aconcagua in Argentina from
South Block, New Delhi on February 05, 2026. The mountain at 6,961 metres stands as the highest peak
of South America and the highest mountain outside Asia. The joint expedition is being undertaken by the
Nehru Institute of Mountaineering (NIM), Uttarkashi and Jawahar Institute of Mountaineering & Winter
Sports (JIM&WS), Pahalgam.
Raksha Mantri commended the NIM and JIM&WS for preparing the personnel to face challenges with
courage, grit and determination. Extending his best wishes to the team, he stated that scaling this
formidable peak is not merely a test of physical endurance but a true examination of leadership, teamwork
and mental resilience which define the finest mountaineers of India. He exuded confidence that the
members will successfully complete the expedition to the highest peak of South America & the highest
mountain outside Asia, and make the nation proud.
The six-member team comprises highly-trained instructors - Col Hem Chandra Singh, Capt G Santhosh
Kumar, Shri Deep Bahadur Sahi, Shri Vinod Gusain, Nb Sub Bhupinder Singh, and Hav Ramesh Kumar.
The journey will commence on February 06, 2026, and the expedition is expected to conclude by the end
of the month.The knowledge, experience and confidence gained on Mt Aconcagua will directly contribute to safer,
stronger and more effective training of youth, Armed Forces personnel and adventure enthusiasts across
the country. This expedition also symbolises India’s growing presence in global adventure and mountain
exploration.
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