Two Indian Peacekeepers To Receive UN Honours

Two Indian peacekeepers, Lance Havildar Harbhajan Singh and Naib Subedar Sujit Kumar Pradhan, will receive the Dag Hammarskjöld Medal posthumously from the United Nations. The ceremony will be held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on 5 June 2026, and Major Abhilasha Barak will receive the 2025 Military Gender Advocate of the Year award on the same date.

Dag Hammarskjöld Medal

The Dag Hammarskjöld Medal is a posthumous award given by the United Nations to military, police, and civilian personnel who die while serving in UN peacekeeping operations. The medal is named after Dag Hammarskjöld, the second Secretary-General of the United Nations, who died in 1961 in a plane crash in present-day Zambia.

Indian Peacekeepers in UN Missions

Lance Havildar Harbhajan Singh served with the United Nations Organisation Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, known as MONUSCO. Naib Subedar Sujit Kumar Pradhan served with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan, known as UNMISS. Major Abhilasha Barak serves with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, known as UNIFIL.

United Nations Peacekeeping and India

United Nations peacekeeping began in 1948 with the deployment of military observers to the Middle East. India is one of the largest contributors to UN peacekeeping operations and has deployed more than 4,200 personnel worldwide. India has also recorded the highest number of fatalities among troop-contributing countries.

Important Facts for Exams

• The International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers is observed every year on 29 May.
• MONUSCO operates in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
• UNMISS operates in South Sudan.
• UNIFIL operates in Lebanon.

UN Peacekeeping Awards

The Military Gender Advocate of the Year award recognises uniformed personnel serving in UN peace operations. The award is linked to outreach and engagement with women and girls in conflict-affected areas.