Indian Army officer Major Abhilasha Barak has been honored with the Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award for 2025. Major Abhilasha Barak is the first Indian woman peacekeeper leader to receive this award. Major Barak is currently deployed as a commander in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).
Major Barak, who joined the peacekeeping force in June 2025, has been deeply engaged in working with women and vulnerable populations in southern Lebanon. President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have congratulated the female army officer on her rare achievement.
