Kaamya Karthikeyan, an 18-year-old from Mumbai, created a new Indian adventure-sports record by skiing to the South Pole on December 27, 2025. She became the youngest Indian and the second-youngest woman globally to ski to the South Pole. Her expedition covered about 115 km from 89 degrees South to the geographic South Pole. She moved on foot and skis while pulling a sled loaded with her full expedition equipment, facing temperatures of around -30 degrees Celsius and gale-force winds.
For exams, this update is more than a sports headline. It brings together direct facts on the South Pole's location, the last-degree segment from 89 degrees South and an international achievement by a young Indian. The South Pole lies in Antarctica, and the route from 89 degrees South to the Pole is treated as the final-degree polar expedition segment. Prelims questions can therefore focus on the date, location, distance, record, extreme-weather conditions and the nature of the challenge.
Kaamya's South Pole record also links to her earlier mountaineering profile. She has been the youngest Indian and the second-youngest female globally to summit Mount Everest from the Nepal side. She has completed the Seven Summits Challenge, which involves climbing the highest peaks on all seven continents. She is pursuing the Explorers Grand Slam, which combines the Seven Summits with skiing to both the North Pole and the South Pole. For exams, the most useful anchors are December 27, 2025, 89 degrees South, about 115 km, the South Pole and the Explorers Grand Slam.