India’s role in UN Peacekeeping Missions over the years

Context

Two BSF personnel who were part of the UN Peacekeeping Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), were among five people killed during a protest in an eastern town near the border with Uganda.They were part of MONUSCO.

• A total 175 Indian peacekeepers have so far died while serving with the United Nations. India has lost more peacekeepers than any other UN Member State.

About United Nations Peacekeeping

• Since 1948, UN Peacekeepers have undertaken 71 Field Missions. 
• There are approximately 81,820 personnel serving on 13 peace operations led by UNDPO, in four continents currently. 
• This represents a nine-fold increase since 1999.
• A total of 119 countries have contributed military and police personnel to UN peacekeeping. 
• Currently, 72,930 of those serving are troops and military observers, and about 8,890 are police personnel.
  
  

India’s contribution to UN Peacekeeping

• To date, more than 2,53,000 Indians have served in 49 of the 71 UN Peacekeeping missions established around the world since 1948.
• Currently, there are around 5,500 troops and police from India who have been deployed to UN Peacekeeping missions, the fifth highest amongst troop-contributing countries.
• India has also provided, and continues to provide, eminent Force Commanders for UN Missions. 
  • India is the fifth largest troop contributor (TCC) with 5,323 personnel deployed in 8 out of 13 active UN Peacekeeping Missions, of which 166 are police personnel.

Role of women in Indian Peacekeeping

• India has been sending women personnel on UN Peacekeeping Missions. 
• In 2007, India became the first country to deploy an all-women contingent to a UN Peacekeeping Mission. 
• The Formed Police Unit in Liberia provided 24-hour guard duty and conducted night patrols in the capital Monrovia, and helped to build the capacity of the Liberian police.
• These women officers not only played a role in restoring security in the West African nation but also contributed to an increase in the number of women in Liberia’s security sector.

Recognition of Indian efforts

• The Indian contingent in the Upper Nile region (includes the Indian Battalion, the Horizontal Mechanical Engineering Company, the Level II hospital, the Petroleum Platoon and the Force Signal Unit) have all received UN Medals of Honour.
• India has provided 17 Force Commanders to various Missions. Besides the Force Commanders, India also had the honour of providing two Military Advisers, one Female Police Adviser, and one Deputy Military Adviser to the Secretary General of the United Nations.
• India was the first country to contribute to the Trust Fund on sexual exploitation and abuse, which was set up in