French President Emmanuel Macron Bestows the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honor on PM Narendra Modi
French President Emmanuel Macron has awarded the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honor, the highest French distinction in military or civilian orders, to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This honor makes PM Modi the first Indian Prime Minister to receive such recognition.
The Legion of Honor, established by Napoleon Bonaparte, consists of different degrees, with the Grand Cross being the highest. The emblem features a five-armed Maltese asterisk on an oak and laurel wreath, and the ribbon is red.
While the Legion of Honor is primarily reserved for French nationals, foreign individuals who have served France or upheld its ideals may also receive this prestigious distinction. Each year, around 300 foreign nationals are honored with this award, and the total membership exceeds 79,000.
The Ministry of External Affairs’ official spokesperson, Arindam Bagchi, expressed the significance of this gesture in a tweet, stating, “A warm gesture embodying the spirit of India-France partnership. PM @narendramodi conferred with the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honor, the highest award in France by President @EmmanuelMacron.”
PM Modi’s visit to France is part of his two-day official visit. He was welcomed with a ceremonial reception at the airport, and French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne greeted him. The Indian diaspora in Paris also gave PM Modi a warm reception, expressing their support with slogans such as “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” and “Vande Mataram.”
As the Guest of Honour, PM Modi will join President Macron for the French National Day in Paris on April 14. The Indian tri-services contingent will participate in the Bastille Day Parade, and the Indian Air Force aircraft will perform a fly-past during the event. This visit coincides with the 25th anniversary of the strategic partnership between India and France.
During his visit, PM Modi engaged in various meetings and interactions. He met with French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne to discuss further cooperation in areas such as economy, trade, energy, environment, education, mobility, digital public infrastructure, and people-to-people ties. He also had a meeting with French Senate President Gerard Larcher, where they discussed India’s G20 priorities, democratic values in technology usage, and cooperation between the upper houses of both countries.
In his interactions, PM Modi highlighted the strong connections between India and France and invited the Indian diaspora to explore investment opportunities in India. The discussions focused on strengthening bilateral ties and addressing regional and global issues of mutual interest.
