PM Modi receives Bhutan's highest civilian honour - Order of the Druk Gyalpo

During his two-day state visit to Bhutan, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was awarded Bhutan's highest civilian honour - Order of the Druk Gyalpo. The honour is bestowed by the King of Bhutan in recognition of outstanding contributions to the nation and its people.

Recipients of this prestigious honour typically include individuals who have made significant contributions to the fields of politics, culture, society, or humanitarian efforts. The order is a symbol of the highest esteem and gratitude of the Bhutanese monarchy towards those who have served with distinction.

The honour was bestowed on the Indian prime minister by the King of Bhutan in a ceremony at Tendrelthang, Thimphu.

India-Bhutan relations is marked by cultural exchanges, economic cooperation, and spiritual connections. India plays an important role as Bhutan's close ally.

The announcement of this honour was initially made by the King of Bhutan during the 114th National Day celebrations on December 17, 2021. Prime Minister Modi became the first foreign leader to receive thisaward which shows the strong bilateral ties between India and Bhutan.

Expressing gratitude, Prime Minister Modi stated, "Honoured to be conferred with 'Order of the Druk Gyalpo' Award by Bhutan. I dedicate it to 140 crore (1.4 billion) Indians."

Reflecting on the warm reception, PM Modi expressed his appreciation for the hospitality of the Bhutanese people and reiterated his commitment to elevating the India-Bhutan friendship to new heights.

"Prime Minister underlined that the award was an honour bestowed on the people of Bharat and a testament to the excellent state of bilateral ties between the two countries," a statement by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs read adding, "The award recognizes Prime Minister Modi’s contribution to strengthening India-Bhutan friendship."

"As per ranking and precedence established, the Order of the Druk Gyalpo was instituted as the decoration for lifetime achievement and is the pinnacle of the honor system in Bhutan, taking precedence over all orders, decorations and medals," MEA further said.

Awards by US and Russia

In 2020, Prime Minister Narendra Modi received the 'Legion of Merit' from former US President Donald Trump for his efforts in strengthening the India-US relationship. This prestigious award was also bestowed upon Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

Additionally, in 2019, Moscow honored Prime Minister Modi with Russia's highest state decoration, the Order of St. Andrew, in recognition of his outstanding contributions to fostering a special and privileged strategic partnership between India and Russia.

(With inputs from agencies)