Major Swathi Shantha Kumar of the Indian Army, hailing from Bengaluru, has been conferred the UN Secretary-General’s Award 2025 for her initiative titled Equal Partners, Lasting Peace.
Currently deployed with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), her work has significantly improved gender parity through the effective deployment and integration of the Indian Engagement Team, strengthening grassroots engagement across the mission area.
Under her leadership, the team carried out short- and long-range patrols, integrated reverie patrols, and dynamic air patrols to remote regions. Major Swathi belongs to the Corps of Electronics and Mechanical Engineers (EME).
