NIMAS Climbs 20 Virgin Peaks in Ladakh in 23 Days, Sets World Record
A 20-member team from the National Institute of Mountaineering and Adventure Sports (NIMAS) scaled 20 unclimbed peaks above 6,000 metres in Ladakh within 23 days. Led by Colonel Ranveer Singh Jamwal, the team was felicitated in New Delhi by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. The achievement entered the World Book of Records as NIMAS's third consecutive world record.
What happened
The National Institute of Mountaineering and Adventure Sports (NIMAS), an autonomous institution under the Ministry of Defence, accomplished a historic feat named the First Ascent Mountaineering Expedition. A specialized 20-member team successfully summited 20 previously unclimbed virgin peaks above 6,000 metres in altitude across the Ladakh Range in just 23 days.
The expedition covered challenging high-altitude terrain across the Chamser-Lungser, Gyama Nala, and Chokula sectors of Ladakh. Before launching the mission, the team confirmed the unscaled status of these peaks by cross-referencing mountaineering archives, satellite imagery, and consultation with the Indian Mountaineering Foundation (IMF).
On 25 September 2026, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh formally flagged in and felicitated the expedition team at Kartavya Bhavan-2 in New Delhi. Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh and other senior defence officials attended the ceremony. The successful campaign earned an official entry into the World Book of Records, marking the third consecutive world record achieved by NIMAS over a three-year span.
Important dates
| Expedition Flag-in Ceremony | 25 September 2026 |
|---|---|
| Official News Release Date | 28 September 2026 |
📌 Static GK links
- NIMAS Location: Dirang, West Kameng district, Arunachal Pradesh.
- Administrative Ministry: Ministry of Defence, Government of India.
- Mandate: NIMAS provides adventure training across land, air, and water domains including mountaineering, paragliding, scuba diving, and white-water rafting.
- Expedition Leader: Colonel Ranveer Singh Jamwal previously led the Har Shikhar Tiranga campaign to hoist the Indian tricolour on the highest peaks of all 28 states.
- Verification Body: The Indian Mountaineering Foundation (IMF) is the apex national body overseeing mountaineering activities in India.
What candidates should do
- Note the exact numbers for exam questions: 20 virgin peaks, above 6,000 metres altitude, completed in 23 days.
- Memorize the headquarters and ministry of NIMAS (Dirang, Arunachal Pradesh; Ministry of Defence).
- Review geographical locations of the Ladakh Range, including the Chamser-Lungser, Gyama Nala, and Chokula sectors.
- Track static GK regarding apex bodies such as the Indian Mountaineering Foundation (IMF).
PrepZen analysis
Achievements by defence institutions like NIMAS frequently appear in competitive examinations under Current Affairs, Defence, and Static General Knowledge. Questions in UPSC Prelims, SSC CGL, and Banking exams commonly test facts such as the governing ministry, location of national training institutes, and specific geographic areas where major expeditions take place.
Candidates should focus on the link between current milestones and static geography. Remembering the sectors explored (Chamser-Lungser, Gyama Nala, Chokula) alongside the role of the Indian Mountaineering Foundation helps solve both factual MCQs and statement-based questions on defence-led national initiatives.
Practice questions
Q1. Which premier institute recently set a world record by scaling 20 virgin peaks above 6,000 metres in Ladakh in 23 days?
- Himalayan Mountaineering Institute (HMI)
- National Institute of Mountaineering and Adventure Sports (NIMAS)
- Nehru Institute of Mountaineering (NIM)
- Jawahar Institute of Mountaineering and Winter Sports (JIM&WS)
Show answer
Answer: (b) National Institute of Mountaineering and Adventure Sports (NIMAS) — The National Institute of Mountaineering and Adventure Sports (NIMAS), located in Dirang, Arunachal Pradesh, scaled 20 virgin peaks in the Ladakh Range within 23 days.
Q2. Where is the National Institute of Mountaineering and Adventure Sports (NIMAS) located?
- Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand
- Manali, Himachal Pradesh
- Dirang, Arunachal Pradesh
- Darjeeling, West Bengal
Show answer
Answer: (c) Dirang, Arunachal Pradesh — NIMAS is an autonomous adventure training institution operating under the Ministry of Defence, located in Dirang, Arunachal Pradesh.
Q3. Who led the 20-member specialized NIMAS team during the First Ascent Mountaineering Expedition?
- Colonel Ranveer Singh Jamwal
- Rajesh Kumar Singh
- Rajnath Singh
- Major H.P.S. Ahluwalia
Show answer
Answer: (a) Colonel Ranveer Singh Jamwal — Colonel Ranveer Singh Jamwal, Director of NIMAS, led the 20-member expedition that scaled 20 virgin Himalayan peaks.
The entire expedition across Ladakh Range was wrapped up in 23 days.
Explored regions include Chamser-Lungser, Gyama Nala, and Chokula sectors.
Colonel Ranveer Singh Jamwal led the 20-member specialized expedition team.
🎯 Key Point: NIMAS team summits 20 unclimbed Ladakh peaks in 23 days.
FAQs
Under which ministry does NIMAS operate?
NIMAS operates as an autonomous institution under the Ministry of Defence, Government of India.
Which sectors in Ladakh were covered during the First Ascent Mountaineering Expedition?
The expedition summited peaks situated across the Chamser-Lungser, Gyama Nala, and Chokula sectors in the Ladakh Range.
What record did the NIMAS Ladakh expedition achieve?
The team summited 20 virgin peaks above 6,000 metres in 23 days, entering the World Book of Records and marking NIMAS's third consecutive world record in three years.
What earlier national campaign was led by Colonel Ranveer Singh Jamwal?
Colonel Jamwal previously conceived and led the Har Shikhar Tiranga campaign, which unfurled the Indian national flag on the highest points of all 28 states.
Sources
- thestatesman.com (www.thestatesman.com)
- deccanchronicle.com (www.deccanchronicle.com)
- dreamwanderlust.com (www.dreamwanderlust.com)
- dailypioneer.com (dailypioneer.com)
Prepared by the PrepZen Editorial Team from official releases and verified reports, for exam preparation. Spotted an error? Write to support@prepzen.digitalvizag.com.
Q Practice Quiz — 28 September 2026
1. Who has been appointed as the new Chairperson of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE)?
Explanation: Mandeep Bhandari has been appointed as the new Chairperson of CBSE by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC), succeeding Lokhande Prashant Sitaram.
2. Which bank has appointed actor R. Madhavan as its brand ambassador alongside launching the 'Nothing Small About Us' campaign?
Explanation: Ujjivan Small Finance Bank appointed actor and Padma Shri awardee R. Madhavan as its brand ambassador with its new campaign 'Nothing Small About Us'.
3. Consider the following statements regarding India's first LNG-powered train: 1. It was flagged off from Sabarmati Railway Station in Gujarat. 2. The train runs exclusively on LNG fuel. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Explanation: Statement 1 is correct as it was flagged off from Sabarmati Railway Station in Gujarat. Statement 2 is incorrect because the train operates on a diesel-LNG dual-fuel system rather than exclusively on LNG.
4. Where is the 11th Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) being held?
Explanation: The 11th Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of AIIB is held in Doha, Qatar, attended by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
5. Which mountaineering institute's team summited 20 unclimbed peaks above 6,000 meters in Ladakh in just 23 days?
Explanation: A 20-member team from the National Institute of Mountaineering and Adventure Sports (NIMAS), Dirang, led by Colonel Ranveer Singh Jamwal, summited 20 unclimbed peaks in Ladakh.
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