Major Abhilasha Barak was named recipient of the military's Gender Advocate of the Year Award for 2025.

A total of 565 Indian peacekeepers, including 53 women, have been awarded the prestigious United Nations Medal for their commitment to civilian protection in South Sudan. The Indian 'Blue Helmets' were decorated alongside 464 Rwandan personnel during a special ceremony organized by the UN mission (UNMISS) in Malakal.

The recognition highlights India’s profound sacrifices, with costly deployments resulting in nearly 180 casualties, the highest among troop-contributing nations. Recently, Lance Havildar Harbhajan Singh and Naib Subedar Sujit Kumar Pradhan received the posthumous Dag Hammarskjold Medal, the UN’s highest official peacekeeping honor.

Further elevating India's global profile, Major Abhilasha Barak was named recipient of the military's Gender Advocate of the Year Award for 2025. Her selection stems from outstanding efforts in empowering local communities while leading a Female Engagement Team during her deployment in Lebanon.

The awarded contingent in South Sudan earned accolades for diverse activities, including local patrol operations, managing critical veterinary camps, and combating gender-based violence. UNMISS Force Commander Major General Junhui Wu praised the personnel for maintaining exceptional discipline under challenging conditions.

Currently, India ranks as the world's second-largest contributor of uniformed personnel to United Nations operations, right after Nepal. Over 4,200 Indian military and police personnel, including 155 women, are actively deployed across volatile regions like Cyprus, Congo, Lebanon, Somalia, and Western Sahara.