Major Abhilasha Barak wins UN award, PM Modi congratulates her

Major Abhilasha Barak, India’s first woman combat helicopter pilot, has added another historic milestone to her distinguished military career by receiving the United Nations Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award 2025. The prestigious honour was presented by UN Secretary-General António Guterres at the United Nations Headquarters, recognising her outstanding contribution towards advancing women’s participation and perspectives in peacekeeping operations. Guterres hailed Major Barak as a role model for peacekeepers worldwide.Highlighting her work in southern Lebanon, the UN chief noted that Major Barak established strong relationships with local communities and helped create early-warning networks that significantly improved civilian protection mechanisms. He further praised her efforts in conducting educational, vocational and health-related programmes that have positively impacted thousands of women and girls in the region.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday, June, 7, 2026, congratulated Major Abhilasha Barak on being conferred the UN Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award. Major Barak, currently serving with the United Nations mission in Lebanon, has been honoured with the award for her outreach efforts with women and girls during her deployment in the West Asian nation. Modi observed that this honour is a recognition of her exemplary service and also of India’s longstanding contribution to United Nations peacekeeping efforts. The Prime Minister stated that her achievement is also an inspiration to countless young Indians, especially the daughters of the nation, who aspire to serve the country and humanity. Each year, the awardee is selected from among candidates nominated by force commanders and heads of mission from all peace operations, according to UN Peacekeeping.
According to the United Nations, Major Barak successfully carried out 539 gender-focused field activities within six months, reaching more than 5,000 women and adolescent girls through community outreach initiatives. India is among the largest troop and police contributing countries to UN peacekeeping missions. As of February 2026, UNIFIL's force consists of 7,538 peacekeepers from 48 troop-contributing countries, including 642 personnel from India, the fourth highest after Italy (784), Indonesia (756) and Spain (660).Born in Rohtak, Haryana, Major Barak grew up in a military environment.