The United Nations has celebrated Indian Army Major Swati Shanta Kumar with its Secretary General’s Award 2025, spotlighting her ‘Equal Partners, Sustainable Peace’ project in South Sudan. This feat underscores India’s vital contributions to global stability.
Commanding an Engagement Platoon in UNMISS, Major Swati led a landmark 20-woman Indian team—the mission’s inaugural all-female group. Amid South Sudan’s volatility, they revolutionized operations by embedding women in every patrol and engagement, from long-range treks to aerial and riverine maneuvers.
Facing monsoonal floods that render roads unusable, the team adapted ingeniously, reaching isolated communities and building vital trust bridges with UN forces.
Major Swati humbly credited her success: ‘The award in gender-inclusive peacekeeping honors our squad’s efforts, supported by battalion, Army Headquarters in Delhi, and the Indian Army. Pioneering as India’s first women’s contingent here, we thrived on strategic oversight.’
Their mission began with spotting a community-mission disconnect. Through proactive patrols and outreach, they fostered unity. ‘Inclusion was ingrained in our training,’ she noted. ‘Representing India meant leading with purpose in every interaction.’
Major Swati’s achievement signals a shift in peacekeeping paradigms. By prioritizing gender balance, her approach not only enhanced effectiveness but also inspired confidence in conflict-torn regions, affirming India’s leadership in international peace efforts.