Major Abhilasha Barak Receives Prestigious United Nations Gender Advocate of the Year Award 2025
Major Abhilasha Barak has been awarded the United Nations Gender Advocate of the Year Award 2025 in recognition of her significant contributions to gender advocacy and peacekeeping efforts.
The United Nations announced the honor, with the Indian Embassy also extending their congratulations.
As the Female Engagement Team (FET) Commander of INDBATT-XXVI, Major Barak excelled in enhancing community outreach, gender inclusion, and peacekeeping initiatives during her service.
Originating from Panchkula, Major Barak belongs to a family with a strong military background. Her father, Colonel (Retd.) S Om Singh, and her brother have both served in the Indian Army, motivating her early on to join the Armed Forces.
She attended The Lawrence School Sanawar and later graduated with a B.Tech degree in Electronics and Communication Engineering from Delhi Technological University (DTU).
Prior to her Army career, she briefly worked with Deloitte in the United States. With a determination to serve her country, she began preparing for the Armed Forces in 2016, successfully clearing the Services Selection Board (SSB) examination four times before being commissioned into the Army Air Defence Corps in September 2018.
In May 2022, Major Barak made history as the first female combat aviator in the Army Aviation Corps, after completing her training at the Combat Army Aviation Training School in Nashik, where she earned her “Wings” alongside other Army pilots.
Throughout her career, she has undertaken numerous specialized military courses and training programs. She also represented the Army Air Defence contingent at the Republic Day Parade, where she was recognized by former President Ram Nath Kovind.
Major Barak's journey is a testament to women's empowerment, persistence, and leadership within the Armed Forces, inspiring many young women across the nation to pursue military careers and contribute to national development.
Reflecting on her path, Major Barak has previously highlighted that passion, dedication, and hard work are essential for success, asserting that “nothing is unachievable” for women aiming to join the Armed Forces today.
