Major Abhilasha Barak has been conferred the prestigious United Nations Gender Advocate of the Year Award 2025 in recognition of her outstanding contribution towards gender advocacy and peacekeeping operations.
The honour was announced by the United Nations, with congratulations also extended by the Indian Embassy.
Major Barak served with distinction as the Female Engagement Team (FET) Commander of INDBATT-XXVI, where she played a key role in strengthening community outreach, gender inclusion, and peacekeeping engagement during her deployment.
Hailing from Panchkula, Major Abhilasha Barak comes from a proud military family. Her father, Colonel (Retd.) S Om Singh, and her brother have both served in the Indian Army, inspiring her from an early age to pursue a career in the Armed Forces.
Major Barak completed her schooling at The Lawrence School Sanawar and later earned a B.Tech degree in Electronics and Communication Engineering from Delhi Technological University (DTU).
Before joining the Army, she briefly worked with Deloitte in the United States. Determined to serve the nation, she began preparing for the Armed Forces in 2016 and reportedly cleared 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 scripted history by becoming the first woman combat aviator in the Army Aviation Corps after successfully completing her training at the Combat Army Aviation Training School in Nashik and receiving the coveted “Wings” alongside fellow Army pilots.
Over the years, she has completed several specialised military courses and training programmes and has also represented the Army Air Defence contingent during the Republic Day Parade, where she was honoured by former President Ram Nath Kovind.
Major Barak’s journey has emerged as a powerful symbol of women empowerment, perseverance, and leadership in the Armed Forces. Her achievements continue to inspire young women across the country to pursue careers in the military and contribute towards nation-building.
Speaking earlier about her journey, Major Barak had emphasised that passion, dedication, and hard work are the key ingredients for success, adding that “nothing is unachievable” for women aspiring to join the Armed Forces today.
