Gen Dalbir Singh, the Chief of the Army Staff felicitated the Members and Next of Kin of the deceased Members of India's first ever Mt Everest Expedition Team on 20 May 2015 at Manekshaw Convention Centre in a Felicitation Ceremony organised by the Indian Army Adventure Wing.

The Golden Jubilee of Indian’s first successful ascent on Mt Everest, which was led by Captain (Indian Navy) M S Kohli (Retired), Padma Bhushan, in 1965, is being celebrated from 19 to 21 May 2015 by the Indian Mountaineering Federation.

The Expedition Team had nineteen members including ten Climbers from the Indian Army. Late Lt Col AS Cheema (Retired) was the first Indian to summit Mt Everest on 20 May 2015. Apart being the first successful Indian ascent, the Expedition established various records including summiting nine Climbers on Mt Everest in a single expedition and winning Arjuna Awards for each members of the Team in 1965.

​ The Felicitation Ceremony began with the COAS’ interacting with Members and Next of Kins of the deceased Members of the Team. The COAS addressed the gathering and expressed the gratitude to all expedition members for bringing laurels to the army & the nation. The COAS thereafter announced that the Indian Army Mount Everest Expedition Team will scale the summit in 2016, thereby concluding the event.

Col Rohan Anand, SM

PRO (Army)