PM Modi receives Sweden's Royal Order of Polar Star, his 31st international honour
Synopsis
Sweden's King Carl XVI Gustaf has conferred its highest civilian honour on Prime Minister Modi — the Royal Order of the Polar Star Commander Grand Cross — making it his 31st international state award. Presented by Crown Princess Victoria in Stockholm, the recognition underscores India's accelerating diplomatic footprint across Europe and the Global South.
Key Takeaways
PM Narendra Modi received the Royal Order of the Polar Star Commander Grand Cross — Sweden's highest civilian honour — on 18 May 2025 .
The award was presented by Crown Princess Victoria at the County Governor's residence in the presence of Swedish PM Ulf Kristersson .
The Order of the Polar Star was instituted in 1748 and is awarded for personal endeavours advancing Sweden or Swedish interests.
This is the 31st international honour conferred upon Prime Minister Modi.
NDA leaders including Syed Shahnawaz Hussain , R.P.
Singh , Brajesh Pathak , and Neeraj Kumar hailed the recognition as a moment of national pride.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was conferred Sweden's highest civilian honour, the Royal Order of the Polar Star Commander Grand Cross, during his official visit to Sweden on Sunday, 18 May 2025. The decoration was presented by Crown Princess Victoria at a ceremony held at the County Governor's residence, in the presence of Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson. This marks the 31st international honour bestowed upon the Indian Prime Minister.
About the Honour
According to the Swedish Prime Minister's Office, Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf decided to confer the award on Prime Minister Modi. Instituted in 1748, the Order of the Polar Star is awarded to individuals for personal endeavours that advance Sweden or Swedish interests. It is considered the highest recognition Sweden can confer upon a serving Head of Government.
NDA Leaders React
Back home, leaders across the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) were swift to hail the recognition. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Syed Shahnawaz Hussain said the honour transcended the individual. 'Every country sees PM Modi as the world's leader, and in a global crisis, PM Modi is seen as a ray of hope. This is not just the honour of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, but the honour of the people of the country,' he said.
BJP spokesperson R.P. Singh described the award as a reflection of India's rising global profile. 'That this is the 31st international honour received by the Prime Minister. He is being recognised for his work towards peace, and that India's global stature is now being acknowledged worldwide,' Singh said.
Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak extended congratulations, while Janata Dal (United) Chief Spokesperson Neeraj Kumar framed the recognition in broader national terms. 'The leader of 140 crore Indians becoming a shining star for other nations is a matter of self-respect and pride for every citizen of India, irrespective of religion or caste,' Kumar said.
India's Growing Diplomatic Footprint
The conferral comes as India deepens bilateral ties with Nordic nations, with the Sweden visit forming part of a broader European diplomatic engagement. Notably, this is the 31st time a foreign government has recognised Modi with a state-level honour — a tally that spans multiple continents and reflects the frequency of India's high-level diplomatic outreach over the past decade.
The recognition is also being read domestically as an endorsement of India's foreign policy posture, particularly its emphasis on positioning itself as a voice of the Global South and a mediator in international disputes.
What Comes Next
Prime Minister Modi's Sweden visit is expected to yield further outcomes on trade, technology, and defence cooperation between the two nations. The diplomatic momentum from this visit is likely to feed into India's broader push for expanded partnerships with European democracies ahead of key multilateral summits later in 2025.
Point of View
But the more substantive question is what each visit delivers in concrete bilateral outcomes — trade volumes, technology transfers, defence agreements. The NDA's domestic framing of foreign honours as a collective national achievement is politically useful, but it can obscure the harder measure: whether India's diplomatic visibility is translating into durable strategic partnerships or remains largely ceremonial. Sweden, a NATO member with advanced defence and green-tech industries, represents a genuinely consequential partner for India — the real story is less the medal and more what the Modi-Kristersson talks produced.
NationPress
5 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Royal Order of the Polar Star that PM Modi received?
The Royal Order of the Polar Star is Sweden's highest civilian honour, instituted in 1748, awarded to individuals for personal endeavours that benefit Sweden or Swedish interests. It is the highest recognition Sweden can confer upon a serving Head of Government.
When and where was the honour presented to PM Modi?
The award was presented on 18 May 2025 at the County Governor's residence in Sweden, by Crown Princess Victoria, in the presence of Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson.
How many international honours has PM Modi received so far?
The Royal Order of the Polar Star is the 31st international state-level honour conferred upon Prime Minister Narendra Modi, according to the Swedish Prime Minister's Office and BJP leaders.
Who decided to confer the honour on PM Modi?
According to the Swedish Prime Minister's Office, Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf decided to confer the Royal Order of the Polar Star Commander Grand Cross upon the Indian Prime Minister.
How did Indian political leaders react to the honour?
NDA leaders across parties welcomed the recognition. BJP's Syed Shahnawaz Hussain called Modi 'a ray of hope' for the world, while JD(U)'s Neeraj Kumar described it as a matter of pride for all 140 crore Indians regardless of religion or caste.
