Indian Army’s role is not limited to the battlefield and certainly not to India alone. The Army plays a big role in United Nations peacekeeping operations across the world. Currently, over 5,000 Indian peacekeepers are deployed in 9 active missions, working in challenging conditions to promote international peace.
An Indian Army major has now been honoured for her work in South Sudan. Major Swathi Shanthakumar of the Indian Army, currently deployed with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), has been awarded the United Nations Secretary-General’s Award 2025, one of the highest recognitions in global peacekeeping.
The prestigious honour recognises her exceptional contribution to gender-inclusive and gender-responsive peacekeeping, placing India’s military leadership in the international spotlight.
Who is UN award winner Major Swathi Shanthakumar
Hailing from Bengaluru, Major Swathi is the eldest of three daughters and, according to her family, showed a strong resolve from a young age to don the olive green uniform. Today, she stands as a role model not only for aspiring women officers but also for young Indians across the country, symbolising professionalism, leadership and purpose-driven service.
Her father Shantha Kumar said,” I am a proud dad today. We don’t have a military background but she applied for competitive exams and qualified to join Indian Army. She underwent rigours training. She is currently posted in South Sudan.”
‘Equal Partners, Lasting Peace’: The Award-winning initiative
The UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, announced the winners of the Secretary-General’s Awards–2025, commending Major Swathi’s project titled “Equal Partners, Lasting Peace.” The initiative focused on embedding gender parity into the operational fabric of UNMISS, ensuring that women are not merely beneficiaries of peace but active participants in building it.
Her project was shortlisted from nominations across all UN peacekeeping missions and UN agencies worldwide. It went on to win the Gender Category, securing the highest number of votes among four finalists through a UN-wide voting process involving UN personnel globally.
Strengthening UNMISS through inclusive leadership
It is worth noting here that under her leadership, Major Swathi played a pivotal role in the effective deployment and integration of the Indian Engagement Team, significantly enhancing gender parity within mission operations. Her command ensured deeper grassroots engagement across UNMISS’s area of responsibility.
The Indian Engagement Team, under her initiative, conducted a wide spectrum of missions, which include short- and long-range ground patrols; integrated riverine patrols; dynamic air patrols to far-flung counties. These operations expanded the mission’s reach and reinforced security in some of the most challenging operational environments.
Major Swathi’s project’s impact on the ground?
Major Swathi’s sustained efforts directly contributed to creating a safer and more supportive environment for over 5,000 women, enabling them to participate meaningfully in community activities.
The United Nations noted that the consistent commitment and results delivered under Major Swathi’s leadership have set a strong benchmark for future peacekeeping operations. Her work demonstrates how gender-inclusive command and operational planning can deliver tangible security outcomes and support long-term peace and stability.