Indian Army United Nations peacekeeping missions

Indian soldiers patrol under UN mission in Congo, Africa

Indian Army doctors attend to a child in Congo

Indian Army T-72 tanks with UN markings as part of Operation Continue Hope

Indian Peacekeeper with a child in Congo (for MONUSCO mission), 2000.

2004 Postal Stamp on the 'Indian Army UN Peacekeeping Operations'

India has taken part in more than 49 Peacekeeping missions with a total contribution exceeding 200,000 troops and a significant number of police personnel having been deployed and more than 160 Indian peacekeepers have died serving under the UN flag as of September 2022.^[1] In 2014 India is the third largest troop contributor country [TCC] with 7,860 personnel deployed with ten UN Peacekeeping Missions of which 995 are police personnel, including the first Female Formed Police Unit under the UN.^[2] Even in the year 2024, India has been the biggest contributor of personnel deployed across 12 UN peace-keeping missions across the world.^[3] At 5,901, India had sent the highest number of military personnel for United Nations peace-keeping missions as of December 31, 2023, data released by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).^[4] Indian Peacekeepers were previously lauded by the UN for their efforts in preventing a carnage in the South Sudan conflict which resulted in the death of two of its soldiers.^[5]

India has so far, provided two Military Advisors (Brig. Inderjit Rikhye and Lt Gen R K Mehta), two Police Advisers (Ms Kiran Bedi), one Deputy Military Adviser (Lt Gen Abhijit Guha), 14 Force Commanders and numerous Police Commissioners in various UN Missions. Indian Army has also contributed lady officers as Military Observers and Staff Officers apart from them forming part of Medical Units being deployed in UN Missions.^[6] The first all women contingent in peacekeeping mission, a Formed Police Unit from India, was deployed in 2007 to the UN Operation in Liberia (UNMIL).^[2] Lt Gen Satish Nambiar, a former Indian Army Lieutenant General served as the United Nations Protection Force commander from March 1992 to March 1993. He also served on the "High-level Panel on Threats, Challenges and Change" of the Peacebuilding Commission.^[7]

India was reappointed to the Organizational Committee of the Peacebuilding Commission in December 2010, for a third 2-year term.^[8] India is supportive of nationally led plans for peace consolidation, while arguing for a constructive approach and a "lighter touch" by the Peacebuilding Commission in extending advice, support and in extending its involvement. India has also been contributing to the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund.^[2]