6-Jan-2023: Indian Army deploys its largest contingent of women peacekeepers in United Nation mission at Abyei, UNISFA

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has expressed pride as Indian Army deploys its largest contingent of women peacekeepers in United Nation mission at Abyei, UNISFA. He also said that India has a tradition of active participation in UN peacekeeping missions

4-Feb-2022: Soldiers deployed in UN peace Keeping Mission

Indian Army (IA) has been contributing personnel to other countries to help in peacekeeping under the UN peacekeeping missions since 1950. At present 5,404 Indian peacekeepers are deployed in eight UN Missions. Details are as under:

159 Indian Army (IA) personnel have made supreme sacrifice in the line of duty while serving with UN Missions till date.

Presently, Indian Army (IA) personnel deployed in UN Missions are paid their salary by the Indian Government and Over Seas Allowances (OSA) by UN. There are no delays in the payment to the personnel of Indian Army (IA) deployed in UN Missions.

10-Sep-2019: India calls for reforms in peacekeeping

India has told the UN Security Council that peacekeeping currently is in a “no-man’s land” and called for next generation of reforms in peacekeeping based on incentivisation, innovation and institutionalisation.

India’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Syed Akbaruddin, speaking at a Security Council debate on UN peacekeeping operations, said UN peacekeeping is a unique innovation of multilateralism to respond to threats to international peace and security.

However, at the current stage, peacekeeping is in a “no-man’s land , between trying to keep the peace in fragile environments and trying to enforce the maintenance of peace, where there is none to keep. Responses to new security environments require a willingness to adapt abilities to meet emerging realities.

Mr. Akbaruddin said institutionalisation of an approach where all key actors, especially Troop Contributing Countries (TCCs), are associated in a consistent and predictable manner in the decision-making matrix has been now discussed for decades. However, in practice, there is not effective improvement of the cooperation between TCCs, the Security Council and the Secretariat. It is time to move from pursuit of activism of individual member states to collective action by this Council to institutionalise this effort.

He also called for further incentivising women peacekeepers. As of July 31, women peacekeepers constituted 6 per cent. There are 5,243 female peacekeepers, out of a total of 86,687 peacekeepers. In 26 years, we have increased the share of women by 5 per cent. At this rate, it may not be possible to meet even minimum targets. There need to be special incentives for women peacekeepers and priority deployment of all women- unit pledges. Otherwise, the targets will remain just targets.

Mr. Akbaruddin also said that innovation in capacity building of peacekeepers needs to be a priority, if nations are to move away from a culture of caveats that bedevils peacekeeping into a segmented activity. Innovative options such as co-deployment of peacekeepers from different countries engenders a genuine spirit of partnership for peace and needs to be promoted.

Further, there is need for expansion of online initiatives to develop capacities of future commanders and managers so that they lead by example and raise awareness of UN standards of conduct among their personnel is another innovation that can be further promoted.

He stressed that the best tribute that nations can pay to the valiant men and women, who have served the cause of peacekeeping and to the memories of those who paid the ultimate sacrifice while serving UN peacekeeping, is to keep incentivising change, institutionalising best practices and place a premium on innovation.

Mr. Akbaruddin reiterated India’s commitment to implementing the Secretary General’s Action for Peacekeeping initiative to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of peacekeeping within the contours of their shared understandings.

17-July-2018: United Nations Peacekeeping Course for African Partners (UNPCAP-02) Commences at Manekshaw Centre

The Centre for United Nations Peacekeeping (CUNPK) is conducting jointly with the US, the second edition of United Nations Peacekeeping Course for African Partners (UNPCAP-02) in New Delhi from 17 July to 04 Aug 2017. The opening session for this course was conducted on 17 July at the Manekshaw Centre in New Delhi.

The course is aimed to build and enhance the capacity of the African Troop Contributing Countries to the UN and to further train the trainers from these countries. The course, which revolves around the concept of training the trainers, as stated by the UN, is one of the many steps that India has initiated towards active contribution to peace support activities. Course is being attended by officers from 19 countries including India. The students include officers who are currently employed in their respective peacekeeping training centres in African peacekeeping training institutions.

The training incorporates topics on operational and logistical matters, humanitarian issues, thematic topics, Blackboard and table Top exercises and mission briefs. The course is also targeted to assist the student officers to further train officers in their respective countries on the nuances of peacekeeping. Internationally the course is already being seen as a milestone in many ways.