In military or civilian orders, it is France’s highest distinction.

PM Modi is now the first Indian PM to get this accolade as a result.

For the people of India, PM Modi thanked French President Macron for the distinction. At the Elysee Palace, where PM Modi was received by Macron for a private supper, the award ceremony was held.

The highest honour bestowed by France was given to Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on July 13, 2023 by H.E. Mr. Emmanuel Macron, President of the Republic of France. On behalf of the Indian people, the Prime Minister congratulated President Macron for this exceptional award, according to a statement from the Ministry of External Affairs.

In a tweet, the official spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, Arindam Bagchi, wrote: “A warm gesture expressing the spirit of India-France partnership. President @EmmanuelMacron presented PM @narendramodi with the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour, the highest honour in France.

The Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour has previously been awarded to a small number of world-famous figures and notable leaders. Among them are former German Chancellor Angela Merkel, former United Nations Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali, former South African President Nelson Mandela, King Charles, the then Prince of Wales, and others.

This prize from France is the latest in a string of prestigious accolades and awards that PM Modi has received from other nations.

These include the Order of the Nile by Egypt in June 2023, the Companion of the Order of Logohu by Papua New Guinea in May 2023, the Companion of the Order of Fiji in May 2023, the Ebakl Award by the Republic of Palau in May 2023, the Order of the Druk Gyalpo by Bhutan in 2021, the US Government’s Legion of Merit in 2020, the King Hamad Order of the Renaissance by Bahrain in 2019, the Order of Russia in 2019, the Order of Zayed Award from the United Arab Emirates in 2019, the Grand Collar of the State of Palestine Award from Afghanistan in 2018, the Afghan State Order of Ghazi Amir Amanullah Khan from 2016, and the Saudi Arabian Order of Abdulaziz Al Saud from 2016.

Earlier on Thursday (local time), PM Narendra Modi was invited for a special dinner by French President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee Palace in Paris. Emmanuel Macron, the president of France, and Brigitte Macron, the first lady of France, welcomed PM Modi.

A formal greeting was given to the Prime Minister when he arrived in Paris on Thursday on a two-day official visit. Elisabeth Borne, the French prime minister, met him at the airport.