NEW DELHI: To promote tourism in border areas, the defence minister  Rajnath Singh introduced the "Soul of Steel" Alpine Challenge on Saturday.

Under this joint project of the Indian Army and  Centre for Land Warfare Studies (CLAW) Global, a veterans' organisation, the Defence Minister launched a website for volunteers to sign up for various adventure activities. As part of a combined expedition by the Indian Army and CLAW, Rajnath Singh also signalled the start of the 460-kilometer-long "Road to the End" vehicle rally. Within the following three days, the rally will arrive at its objective in the Chamoli region, close to Niti Village in the Garhwal Himalayas.

The challenge will be led by CLAW, a group of former members of the Indian Special Forces with expertise in mountaineering, skydiving, SCUBA diving, unarmed fighting, multi-terrain survival technology, and emergency medical response.
The Indian Army supports the challenge, which blends abilities from alpine adventure sports and military-style high-altitude operations. An MoU has been inked between the Indian Army's 9(I) Mountain Bde and CLAW Global for the joint execution of Soul of Steel and Human Ability Biome.

On Saturday, the campaign for national and international participation was launched. The challenge will run from March through June.

The specialties that make up Soul of Steel include high altitude mountaineering, cold weather survival, mental fortitude, and physical tenacity. A typical young person who wants to push his physical and psychological boundaries can now access the world of specialised military capabilities thanks to the challenge. Participants will be chosen after a thorough screening process, and training will follow both conventional and contemporary norms. They will receive training throughout the programme to push past the perceived boundaries of their body and explore the boundless worlds of their mind, consciousness, and spirit. The project's goal is to prepare aspiring athletes who want to take part in this international challenge that is "first of its kind."

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