Major Swathi Shantha Kumar, an Indian Army officer from Bengaluru, has received the UN Secretary General's Award 2025 for her project 'Equal Partners, Lasting Peace'. Serving with the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), her work focused on enhancing gender parity and grassroots engagement. Her initiative involved patrols that helped secure an environment for over 5,000 women, fostering their participation and community confidence. Major Swathi, an EME officer, is expected to return to India next month.