An all-women mountaineering team from the Border Security Force (BSF) successfully scaled Mount Everest on May 21, 2026, to mark the force’s Diamond Jubilee year celebrations. Operating under the banner of “Mission Vande Mataram,” the five-member team reached the 8,848.86-metre summit at 8:00 a.m. IST and performed a historic rendition of the national song from the peak. The expedition simultaneously honored the 150th anniversary of the creation of the national song, “Vande Mataram.” Union Home Minister Amit Shah recognized the milestone as a demonstration of national grit, determination, and women’s empowerment within India’s security architecture.
Key Highlights of Mission Vande Mataram
Personnel and Geographic Representation
The core summit team consisted of four women constables who represent diverse geographic terrains and cultural backgrounds across India:
- Constable Kouser Fatima: Hailling from the high-altitude region of Ladakh.
- Constable Tsering Chorol: Recruited from the rugged mountainous district of Kargil.
- Constable Munmun Ghosh: Representing the plains of West Bengal.
- Constable Rabeka Singh: Coming from the foothills of Uttarakhand.
Expedition Leadership and Specialized Training
- Leadership: The mission was led by Deputy Commandant Loveraj Singh Dharamshaktu, a highly decorated mountaineer and Padma Shri recipient who has summited Mount Everest seven times.
- Preparation: The team completed specialized high-altitude training under the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Mountaineering and Allied Sports (ABVIMAS) in Manali, Himachal Pradesh, to build tactical endurance and acclimatization capabilities.
- Institutional Shift: High-altitude mountaineering within Indian paramilitary forces has traditionally been fielded by senior officers or specialized wings. This mission marks an institutional shift by utilizing frontline constables for an elite global expedition.
Operational Context of the Border Security Force
Establishment and Mandate
The BSF was raised on December 1, 1965, following the lessons of the 1965 Indo-Pakistani War. It functions as an autonomous Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) under the administrative control of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). Comprising roughly 2.7 lakh personnel, it stands as one of the largest border-guarding forces in the world.
Primary Border Responsibilities
The BSF is mandated with the peacetime management of India’s international borders to ensure security and prevent trans-border crimes. Its responsibilities are mapped across two major frontiers:
| Frontier Border | Target Length Covered | Border Terrain Challenges |
| Indo-Pakistan Border | Over 3,300 km | Sir Creek marshes, Thar desert plains, and high-altitude mountain sectors |
| Indo-Bangladesh Border | Over 4,096 km | Riverine borders, dense forests, and highly populated plains prone to infiltration |
Secondary Operational Duties
- Line of Control (LoC) Deployment: The BSF operates alongside the Indian Army along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir, managing high-altitude defenses in sectors like Kargil and Poonch.
- Internal Security: The force is routinely deployed for anti-Naxal operations, counter-insurgency duties in Northeast India, election security, and disaster management relief.
Dual Milestones and Strategic Implications
Centennial and Diamond Jubilee Tributes
The year 2026 marks two major milestones for the force and national history. The first is the BSF Diamond Jubilee, commemorating 60 years since its founding in 1965. The second is the 150th anniversary of the national song “Vande Mataram,” originally penned by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay in 1876 and later included in his 1882 novel Anandamath.
Strengthening High-Altitude Capabilities
The deployment of women personnel to Mount Everest serves an operational purpose beyond sports. It tests human physiology and equipment resilience in extreme alpine zones. These insights assist the BSF in improving its deployment strategies along the snow-covered, high-altitude outposts of the northern frontier.
IASPOINT Booster Facts for UPSC
- First Indian Woman on Everest: Bachendri Pal became the first Indian woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest in 1984.
- Padma Shri Leader: Deputy Commandant Loveraj Singh Dharamshaktu is the first Indian to summit Mount Everest seven times, receiving the Padma Shri in 2014 for his contributions to mountaineering.
- Dual All-Women Expeditions in 2026: Alongside the BSF, the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP)—which guards the line with China—is also launching its first exclusive all-women Mount Everest expedition during the mid-2026 climbing season.
- Statutory Status of BSF: While raised in 1965, the BSF was granted statutory status through the enactment of the Border Security Force Act by Parliament in 1968.
- National Song Origin: “Vande Mataram” was adopted as the National Song of India on January 24, 1950. It holds equal status with the National Anthem, “Jana Gana Mana.” The first political occasion where it was sung was the 1896 session of the Indian National Congress (INC) by Rabindranath Tagore.