Prime Minister Narendra Modi has emerged as one of India’s most internationally recognized leaders, having received over 25 top civilian honours from foreign nations. These awards come from countries across Asia, Africa, Europe, the Middle East, Latin America, Oceania, and the Caribbean.
During his recent visit to Israel, Modi received the Medal of the Knesset, one of Israel’s highest parliamentary honours, awarded by the Speaker of the Knesset. This becomes Modi’s 29th global award.
“This honour is not a tribute to an individual, but to the enduring friendship between India and Israel,” Modi shared on social media.
None of his predecessors, including Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, or Manmohan Singh, received a comparable number of foreign honours while in office.
The honours include some of the highest civilian and state awards presented by foreign governments, recognising his role in strengthening bilateral relations, promoting global cooperation, and enhancing India’s diplomatic presence on the world stage.
Some of the awards received over the years include the Grand Cross of the Order of Makarios III from Cyprus, the Grand Collar of the National Order of the Southern Cross from Brazil, the Order of the Nile from Egypt, and the Order of St. Andrew the Apostle from Russia.
Over the years, these recognitions have come from nations with which India has expanded strategic, economic, and cultural partnerships.
Several of the awards acknowledge India’s growing global influence under Modi’s leadership, particularly in areas such as development cooperation, climate action, peace initiatives, and engagement with the Global South. Foreign leaders have cited his efforts to deepen people-to-people ties and advance collaborative growth as reasons for the honours.
The international recognition received by Modi is the highest for any Indian Prime Minister, reflecting India’s active diplomacy and expanding role in international affairs. The honours span both developed and developing nations, underlining India’s broad-based global engagement.
The Prime Minister has often dedicated these awards to the people of India, stating that they symbolise the country’s rising stature and collective efforts rather than individual recognition.
