Dag Hammarskjold Medal

Naik Dhananjay Kumar Singh, who served with the UN Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO), was honoured posthumously with the Dag Hammarskjold medal during a solemn ceremony when the UN commemorated the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers.

About the Dag Hammarskjold Medal:

1. Established in 1997, this award is the highest honour given to United Nations peacekeepers.
2. A posthumous award given to members of peacekeeping operations who lost their lives while serving under the operational control and authority of the United Nations.
3. Awarded annually on Peacekeeper's Day to Member States that have lost military or police peacekeepers, presented at a ceremony at the United Nations headquarters.
4. Named after the second Secretary-General of the United Nations, Dag Hammarskjöld.

Other UN Awards:

1. Captain Mbaye Diagne Medal for Exceptional Courage: Awarded to military, police, civilian United Nations personnel, and associated personnel who show exceptional courage in extreme danger while fulfilling their missions or functions in the service of humanity and the United Nations.
2. UN Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award: Established in 2016 to recognize the dedication and effort of an individual peacekeeper in promoting principles within the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325.

India and UN Peacekeeping:

1. India is the 2nd-largest contributor of uniformed personnel to UN Peacekeeping.
2. Currently deploys over 6,000 military and police personnel to UN operations in Abyei, Central African Republic, Cyprus, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Lebanon, Middle East, Somalia, South Sudan, and Western Sahara.

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