Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi was conferred with the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour, France’s highest award by Mr. Emmanuel Macron, President of the Republic of France.
- Prime Minister thanked President Macron for this singular honour on behalf of the people of India.
- The award ceremony took place at the Elysee Palace in Paris. The honour normally recognises the contribution of the French people in the “service of the nation”.
About Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour
- Foreigners are honoured for their support to France, and the award is sometimes conferred upon high dignitaries on a state visit to France.
- The National Order of the Legion of Honour, or simply The Legion of Honour is the highest French decoration, both civil and military, and is one of the most famous national honours in the world.
- The Order was established by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802, and has been presented for more than the past two centuries on behalf of the French Head of State to its most deserving citizens in all fields of activity.
- The motto of the Order is Honneur et Patrie, French for Honour and Fatherland.
- The award badge is a five-armed Maltese asterisk hung on an oak and laurel wreath.
- On the obverse is the effigy of the Republic and on the reverse two tricolour flags surrounded by the motto Honneur et Patrie.
The colour of the ribbon is red.
- The Legion of Honour is divided into five degrees (lower to higher) – Knight, Officer, Commander, Grand Officer and Grand Cross. The PM was awarded the fifth honour which is the highest honour.
- Other personalities who received this honour include former South African President Nelson Mandela, King Charles – the then Prince of Wales, Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and Former United Nations Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali, and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
