Geeta Samota: First CISF Officer to Conquer Mount Everest and Inspire a Nation

In a landmark achievement for Indian paramilitary history and women’s empowerment, Geeta Samota, a Sub-Inspector with the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), etched her name in the annals of mountaineering on May 19, 2025, by becoming the first CISF officer to scale Mount Everest. Her incredible journey from a village in Rajasthan to the summit of the world’s highest peak symbolizes courage, discipline, and resilience. This remarkable feat also shines a spotlight on the growing presence of Indian women in high-altitude expeditions and adventure sports, traditionally dominated by men.

Table of Contents

• Who Is Geeta Samota?
• From Athlete to Adventurer: Her Early Life
• A Career in CISF and Mountaineering Beginnings
• Key Mountaineering Milestones
• Notable Summits: High-Altitude Triumphs
• The Seven Summits Challenge: A Record-Breaking Journey
• Unmatched Endurance: Five Peaks in Three Days
• Awards and Recognition: Honoring a Trailblazer
• Institutional Support: CISF and Allied Training
• Breaking Barriers: Geeta Samota’s Broader Impact
• FAQs About Geeta Samota’s Mount Everest Journey
• Conclusion: A New Summit for India’s Women

Who Is Geeta Samota?

Geeta Samota became a national icon on May 19, 2025, when she scaled Mount Everest—the world’s tallest mountain standing at 8,849 meters. She is not just the first CISF officer but also among a rare league of Indian women mountaineers to reach the summit.

Her accomplishment carries symbolic weight, marking a turning point in how women in India’s Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) are perceived—proving that the strength to climb both literal and societal mountains lies within our institutions and individuals.

From Athlete to Adventurer: Her Early Life

Geeta Samota hails from Chak village in Rajasthan’s Sikar district, a region known for its valiant legacy. From a young age, she showed athletic prowess, playing hockey at the collegiate level. However, a serious injury cut short her sports journey.

Rather than being deterred, she redirected her drive toward public service and later found a passion in mountaineering—a discipline demanding physical tenacity and mental toughness. This pivot laid the foundation for her record-setting adventures.

A Career in CISF and Mountaineering Beginnings

Geeta joined the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) in 2011, initially unaware that she would later make history in one of the world’s most grueling adventure sports. Her exposure to mountaineering came through the CISF’s outdoor training programs, where she quickly developed a fascination with high-altitude exploration.

Recognizing her potential, CISF supported her aspirations by enrolling her in formal mountaineering courses. What began as institutional encouragement soon blossomed into a lifelong mission of conquering the world’s most challenging peaks.

Key Mountaineering Milestones

🏔️ Basic Mountaineering Course (2015)
Geeta completed her foundational training at the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) Training Centre in Auli. She was notably the only woman in her batch, making her determination all the more admirable.

🧗‍♀️ Advanced Mountaineering Course (2017)
By 2017, she advanced to the specialist course, becoming the first CISF officer—male or female—to attain this milestone. Her focus, discipline, and adaptability at extreme altitudes impressed trainers and peers alike.

These courses equipped her with the technical and survival skills required to navigate avalanches, icefalls, and altitude sickness—all critical for high-altitude expeditions like Everest.

Notable Summits: High-Altitude Triumphs

Over the years, Geeta has built an impressive résumé of successful ascents, solidifying her position as a seasoned Indian mountaineer.

• Mount Satopanth (7,075 meters) – 2019: A highly demanding Himalayan peak, this climb made her the first woman from CAPFs to summit it.
• Mount Lobuche (6,119 meters) – Nepal: Known for its treacherous terrain and sharp ridgelines, her successful climb further demonstrated her readiness for Everest.

These summits were not isolated conquests—they were stepping stones to the world’s most formidable peak.

The Seven Summits Challenge: A Record-Breaking Journey

In 2021–2022, Geeta Samota undertook the prestigious Seven Summits Challenge, which involves climbing the highest peak on each continent. She scaled four of these summits in just 6 months and 27 days, making her the fastest Indian woman to do so. This achievement placed her in elite global mountaineering circles.

🏔️ Peaks Conquered by Geeta:

• Mount Kosciuszko (Australia)
• Mount Elbrus (Russia)
• Mount Kilimanjaro (Tanzania)
• Mount Aconcagua (Argentina)

Each of these climbs tested her endurance, adaptability, and leadership in drastically different terrains—from snow-covered volcanoes to glaciated ridges and high-altitude deserts.

Unmatched Endurance: Five Peaks in Three Days

Geeta further astonished the adventure community by scaling five peaks in just three days in the Rupshu region of Ladakh, a region known for its oxygen-thin atmosphere and rugged terrain. What makes this feat extraordinary is that three of those peaks were above 6,000 meters.

This challenge demonstrated her exceptional acclimatization, stamina, and high-altitude navigation skills—qualities crucial for future expeditions like Antarctica and Denali.

Awards and Recognition: Honoring a Trailblazer

Geeta Samota’s achievements have been recognized at both state and national levels, establishing her as a symbol of empowerment and perseverance.

🏅 Key Awards:

• International Women’s Day Award (2023): Conferred by the Delhi Commission for Women, this award recognized her role in breaking gender barriers and promoting adventure sports among Indian women.
• Giving Wings to Dreams Award (2023): Presented by the Ministry of Civil Aviation, this prestigious award lauded her inspirational journey and relentless spirit.

These accolades underscore her influence not only within the security forces but also in public life and women’s leadership initiatives.

Institutional Support: CISF and Allied Training

Geeta’s accomplishments are not hers alone—they are also a testament to institutional support and a nurturing ecosystem.

🎓 Training Institutes That Shaped Her Journey:

• ABVIMAS (Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Mountaineering and Allied Sports), Manali
• ITBP’s Training Academy, Auli — where she completed both Basic and Advanced Mountaineering Courses

The CISF played a strategic role in sponsoring her Everest mission, providing resources, logistical coordination, and morale support. Her success has now inspired the CISF to launch its first full-fledged mountaineering team expedition in 2026.

Breaking Barriers: Geeta Samota’s Broader Impact

Geeta’s rise as a pioneer among Indian women in paramilitary forces signifies a cultural and institutional shift. Her story serves as a motivating blueprint for:

• Women in uniformed services seeking to break into adventure and extreme sports.
• Young girls in rural India, proving that with the right support, the sky—or the summit—is the limit.
• CAPFs and armed forces, encouraging them to integrate sports and adventure as formal components of professional development.

She is not just a mountaineer; she is a national role model, breaking societal, physical, and institutional ceilings.

FAQs About Geeta Samota’s Mount Everest Journey

1. Who is Geeta Samota and why is she significant?
   Geeta Samota is a Sub-Inspector in the CISF and the first officer from the force to climb Mount Everest. She is also a record-setting woman mountaineer.
2. When did she summit Mount Everest?
   She reached the summit on May 19, 2025.
3. What is the Seven Summits Challenge?
   It’s a global mountaineering feat involving climbing the highest mountain on each of the seven continents. Geeta has completed four of these peaks so far.
4. What other significant climbs has she completed?
   Notable climbs include Mount Satopanth, Mount Lobuche, and five high-altitude peaks in Ladakh in just three days.
5. How has the CISF supported her?
   The CISF facilitated her training and sponsored her Everest mission. Her success has sparked a planned CISF expedition in 2026.

Conclusion: A New Summit for India’s Women

Geeta Samota’s triumphant ascent of Mount Everest is far more than a mountaineering milestone—it’s a defining symbol of grit, gender inclusion, and national pride. As the first CISF officer and among the fastest Indian women to scale multiple peaks, she has become a beacon for future generations.

Her legacy proves that with passion, training, and institutional backing, no summit is too high—whether on the mountain or in life.