DW BUREAU / New Delhi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been honoured with prestigious international civilian awards and recognitions from 27 countries, including prestigious UN Champion of the Earth Award by United Nations, Order of Zayed by the United Arab Emirates, the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour by France, Legion of Merit from USA to Grand Collar of the National Order of the Southern Cross from Brazil and Order of St Andrew the Apostle from Russia among others. These honors symbolize his stature as a global leader for peace, prosperity, and inclusive growth. This information was provided by the Ministry of External Affairs in response to a question asked by the Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha), Satnam Singh Sandhu, during the ongoing Monsoon Session of Parliament.

Rajya Sabha MP, Sandhu has sought the details on highest international civilian awards and foreign recognitions received by Prime Ministers of the country and significance of such recognitions in enhancing India's global diplomatic presence.

Minister of External Affairs, Dr S Jaishankar, in a written reply submitted in the parliament stated, "Prime Ministers of India have received awards of 31 countries, the highest environmental award of the UN and the Olympic Order of International Olympic Committee (IOC). Conferring the awards on the Prime Ministers of India is a clear recognition of their statesmanship and leadership at bilateral, regional and global levels. It also reflects a recognition of India under PM's leadership, including in giving voice to the Global South on the world stage, and approaching issues confronted by humanity through dialogue and diplomacy."

In response to another question asked by Rajya Sabha MP Satnam Sandhu regarding details of 'similar awards' have been conferred upon any other Indian Prime Minister in the past.

Ministry of External Affairs replied that while Prime Minister Narendra Modi received international civilian awards and recognition from 27 nations in the last one decade - spanning from Asia to Africa and from Europe to the Americas (Latin & North America), as many as 8 Prime Ministers of India received 14 international awards in almost 6 decades. With former Prime Ministers including Indira Gandhi receiving 5 international awards, Jawaharlal Nehru received 2, Atal Bihari Vajpayee received 2, Gulzarilal Nanda, IK Gujral, Manmohan Singh, Morarji Desai and Lal Bahadur Shastri all received 1 each international award from 1956 till 2015.

In 2025 alone, PM Modi was honoured with highest civilian awards from Namibia (Order of the Most Ancient Welwitschia Mirabilis), Brazil (Grand Collar of the National Order of the Southern Cross), Trinidad and Tobago (Order of the Republic), and Ghana (Officer of the Order of the Star of Ghana) among others.

Among the noteworthy international recognitions and awards conferred on PM Narendra Modi includes UN's Champion of the Earth Award (2018) ? United Nations' highest environmental accolade, recognizing Modi's efforts in promoting renewable energy and sustainable development.

(editor@dailyworld.in)