PM Modi Receives Sweden’s Highest Honour ‘Order of the Polar Star’

Narendra Modi was awarded Sweden’s highest honour, the “Royal Order of the Polar Star, Commander Grand Cross,” on 17 May 2026 in Gothenburg.

This is Sweden’s highest honour awarded to a head of government or foreign dignitary.

This became the 31st international honour received by Prime Minister Modi. The “Order of the Polar Star” was established in 1748.

The Royal Order of the Polar Star

The “Royal Order of the Polar Star” is among Sweden’s highest honours awarded to foreign citizens and distinguished global leaders for exceptional contributions in education, science, culture, or public service.

The “Commander Grand Cross” is considered the highest class of this honour and is awarded to heads of government and senior dignitaries for their contribution to international diplomacy, cooperation, and bilateral relations.

The honour was conferred during PM Modi’s visit to Sweden, where he held bilateral talks with Ulf Kristersson.

The discussions mainly focused on strengthening cooperation in trade, technology, green transition, innovation, and strategic partnership between the two countries.

This was PM Modi’s first visit to Sweden after eight years. Earlier, he visited Sweden in 2018 during the first India-Nordic Summit.

PM Modi Received Norway’s Highest Civilian Honour

On 18 May 2026, PM Modi was also honoured with Norway’s highest civilian award, the “Royal Norwegian Order of Merit – Grand Cross.”

This became his 32nd international honour.

The Grand Cross is the highest grade of the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit and is awarded for exceptional service in advancing Norway’s interests and international relations.

Major Global Honours Received by PM Narendra Modi

Saudi Arabia: April 2016, 'King Abdulaziz Sash'

Afghanistan: 2016, 'State Order of Ghazi Amir Amanullah Khan'

Palestine: 2018, 'Grand Collar of the State of Palestine'

UAE: 2019, 'Order of Zayed'

Russia: 2019, 'Order of St. Andrew the Apostle'

Maldives: 'Order of the Distinguished Rule of Nishan Izzuddin'

Bahrain: 2019, 'King Hamad Order of the Renaissance'

USA: 2020, 'Legion of Merit'

Bhutan: December 2021, 'Order of the Druk Gyalpo'

Papua New Guinea: 2023, 'Companion of the Order of Logohu'

Fiji: 'Companion of the Order of Fiji'

Papua New Guinea: 'Grand Companion of the Order of Logohu'

Egypt: June 2023, 'Order of the Nile'

France: July 2023, 'Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour'

Greece: August 2023, 'The Grand Cross of the Order of Honour'

Dominica: 2024, 'Dominica Award of Honour'

Nigeria: November 2024, 'The Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger'

Guyana: November 2024, 'The Order of Excellence'

Barbados: November 2024, 'Honorary Order of Freedom of Barbados'

Kuwait: December 2024, 'Mubarak Al-Kabir Order'

Mauritius: March 2025, 'The Grand Commander of the Order of the' ‘Star and Key of the Indian Ocean’

Sri Lanka: April 2025 — ‘Sri Lanka Mitra Vibhushana’

Cyprus: June 2025 — ‘Grand Cross of the Order of Makarios III’

Ghana: July 2025 — ‘The Officer of the Order of the Star of Ghana’

Trinidad and Tobago: July 2025 — ‘The Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago’

Brazil: July 2025 — ‘The Grand Collar of the National Order of the Southern Cross’

Namibia: July 2025 — ‘The Order of the Most Ancient Welwitschia Mirabilis’

Ethiopia: December 2025 — ‘Great Honor Nishan of Ethiopia’

Oman: December 2025 — ‘First Class of the Order of Oman’

Israel: February 2026 — ‘Medal of the Knesset’