Narendra Singh Yadav, India’s youngest male mountaineer to conquer the Seven Summits, has appealed to the government to give greater recognition and support to the mountaineering community in India. Speaking after completing his historic climb of Mount Vinson Massif in Antarctica on December 25, Yadav emphasized the need for government attention toward promoting mountaineering and recognizing the contributions of climbers beyond their involvement in natural disaster rescue operations.

Yadav, who braved extreme temperatures as low as -52°C to summit Antarctica’s highest peak, called on the government to create a dedicated rescue force at the district level. “The value of mountaineers is often understood by the government only when natural disasters like earthquakes or floods strike. At the district level, a dedicated rescue force needs to be created,” he said during a video call from Antarctica, speaking with PTI.

Having completed the Seven Summits challenge, which involves climbing the highest peaks on all seven continents, Yadav’s achievement has brought him international recognition. However, he believes that India’s mountaineering community needs more encouragement and infrastructure to further excel in this field.

Yadav’s call for greater support also highlights the vital role mountaineers play in disaster relief efforts, underscoring the need for the government to recognize their skills and contributions beyond adventure sports. With his milestone achievement, Yadav hopes to inspire more young Indians to take up mountaineering and make their mark on the global stage.