At least 565 Indian peacekeepers, including 53 women, serving with the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) have been honoured for their dedication and commitment to protecting civilians and supporting peacebuilding efforts in the conflict-affected country.The peacekeepers were recognised for their efforts in “protecting civilians through patrols, community engagement, veterinary camps, women’s self-defence training, combating gender violence, and improving humanitarian access”, the UN body said. Blue Helmets refers to military personnel, police officers and civilian experts serving under the operational command of the UN peacekeeping forces.Praising the awards, the Permanent Mission of India to the UN congratulated the Indian contingent. “Indian Blue Helmets have consistently upheld the highest standards of professionalism in all their spheres of operation,” the mission said in a social media post. India is the second largest contributor of uniformed personnel to UN peacekeeping operations, after Nepal.It currently contributes more than 4,200 military and police personnel, including 155 women, across missions in Abyei, the Central African Republic, Cyprus, Congo, Lebanon, the Middle East, Somalia, South Sudan and Western Sahara. Nearly 180 Indian peacekeepers have lost their lives in the line of duty, the highest number among troop-contributing countries.