New Delhi: More than 550 Indian peacekeepers serving with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) have been awarded the prestigious UN Medal of Honour in recognition of their dedication to peacekeeping, civilian protection, and humanitarian service in the conflict-affected African nation.
According to the United Nations Mission in South Sudan, a total of 565 Indian Blue Helmets, including 53 women peacekeepers, and 464 Rwandan peacekeepers received the honour during a ceremony held in Malakal city on Monday.
The Indian contingent was recognised for its outstanding contribution to protecting civilians through regular patrols, community engagement initiatives, veterinary camps, women’s self-defence training programmes, efforts to combat gender-based violence, and improving humanitarian access in vulnerable regions.
UNMISS Force Commander Major-General Junhui Wu praised the peacekeepers for their commitment and professionalism under challenging conditions.
“Every medal awarded today celebrates the courage and resilience of our brave peacekeepers, who continue to demonstrate the highest standards of discipline, operational effectiveness, and teamwork,” he said.
Congratulating the award recipients, India’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations highlighted the exemplary service rendered by Indian peacekeepers across global conflict zones.
“Indian Blue Helmets have consistently upheld the highest standards of professionalism in all their spheres of operation,” the mission said in a statement shared on social media.
The term “Blue Helmets” refers to military personnel, police officers, and civilian experts deployed under United Nations peacekeeping missions worldwide.
India remains one of the largest contributors to UN peacekeeping operations and is currently the second-largest provider of uniformed personnel after Nepal. More than 4,200 Indian military and police personnel, including 155 women, are currently serving in UN missions across regions such as Abyei, the Central African Republic, Cyprus, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Lebanon, the Middle East, Somalia, South Sudan, and Western Sahara.
India has also paid a significant price in its commitment to global peacekeeping. Nearly 180 Indian peacekeepers have lost their lives while serving under the UN flag, the highest number among all troop-contributing nations.
Last week, during observances marking the International Day of UN Peacekeepers, two Indian soldiers were posthumously awarded the prestigious Dag Hammarskjold Medal for their sacrifice in the line of duty. The recipients were Lance Havildar Harbhajan Singh, who served with the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), and Naib Subedar Sujit Kumar Pradhan, who served with United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).
In another achievement for India, Major Abhilasha Barak was named the recipient of the 2025 Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award. Serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), she was recognised for her efforts in engaging with women and girls during her deployment in Lebanon.
Major Barak, who serves as Commander of the Female Engagement Team in UNIFIL, is also the first woman combat helicopter pilot in the Indian Army, marking another milestone in India’s contribution to international peacekeeping and gender inclusion initiatives.
