Modi’s growing haul of foreign awards draws scrutiny
India’s prime minister has collected more than 30 overseas honors, including several created shortly before or during diplomatic visits.
By Sofia Marchetti · World Affairs Correspondent
3 min read
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s latest overseas honors have renewed debate over how foreign governments court New Delhi and how Modi uses those gestures at home. Al Jazeera reported that several awards presented to Modi during official travel were newly created or tailored for his visits.
During a June 27-29 trip to the Seychelles, Modi received a blue, pear-shaped trophy called the “Guardian of the Blue Horizon.” According to Al Jazeera, the distinction had not existed before the visit and was presented by Seychelles President Patrick Herminie at a State House ceremony in Victoria.
The award was described as the Seychelles’ top civilian honor and cited Modi’s leadership on sustainable development, environmental protection and climate resilience, Al Jazeera reported. Images of an accompanying certificate drew attention because they included misspellings, including “Repubblic” and “Seycheeles.”
Supriya Shrinate, a Congress Party politician in India, criticized the episode on X on June 28, saying the hosts had moved so quickly that they misspelled the country’s official name. The Seychelles Foreign Ministry later said the image circulating online showed a “working draft” and said the “Guardian of the Blue Horizon” distinction was genuine.
Al Jazeera reported that the Seychelles cabinet approved the award only days before Modi arrived. Nitasha Kaul, a professor of politics and international relations at the University of Westminster, told Al Jazeera the episode looked like a hurried process that exposed the award to mockery.
A long list of honors
Modi has received more than 30 awards during foreign trips over his 12 years in office, according to Al Jazeera. On Tuesday in Indonesia, he was given the Bintang Adipurna, which Al Jazeera described as Indonesia’s highest civilian award.
In June, Slovakia awarded Modi the Order of the White Double Cross, 1st Class. Al Jazeera reported that the decoration is a real Slovak state honor generally reserved for foreign nationals who have contributed to relations with Slovakia, and that past recipients include former Polish President Bronislaw Komorowski and former Austrian President Heinz Fischer.
In February, Modi became the first recipient of the Speaker of the Knesset Medal during a visit to Israel, according to Al Jazeera. The outlet reported that the medal was created shortly before the visit, which came ahead of the US-Israeli war on Iran.
Modi’s overseas recognition has also included awards from international and private institutions. In 2018, he shared the United Nations Champions of the Earth Award with French President Emmanuel Macron, an environmental honor given by the UN. In 2019, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation presented him with the Global Goalkeeper Award for his role in the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan sanitation programme, according to Al Jazeera.
Also in 2019, Modi received the first Philip Kotler Presidential Award from the World Marketing Summit. Al Jazeera reported that no other world leader has received that award since.
Image and diplomacy
Modi has said while accepting such awards that they recognize India rather than him personally, according to Al Jazeera. The outlet reported that governments creating new honors for Modi could reflect their interest in maintaining close ties with India as its global influence grows.
Some analysts questioned whether the honors produce practical gains. Ian Hall, a professor of international relations at Griffith University, told Al Jazeera that New Delhi may present the awards as evidence of India’s standing, but he saw little clear diplomatic or economic benefit for the country.
Kaul told Al Jazeera the awards serve Modi’s political image more than India’s diplomacy. She said the Seychelles certificate controversy showed how quickly such gestures can shift from respect to ridicule.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.