PM Modi visits Mahatma Gandhi Centre at Tashkent University
Synopsis
Modi's Tashkent visit went well beyond diplomacy — he received Uzbekistan's highest civilian honour, held wide-ranging bilateral talks covering UPI and critical minerals, paid homage at the Shastri Memorial, and visited the Mahatma Gandhi Centre, before heading to Kyrgyzstan for the SCO Summit and the World Nomad Games.
Key Takeaways
PM Modi visited the Mahatma Gandhi Centre at Tashkent State University of Oriental Studies on 30 August , interacting with Indologists and students.
Modi paid tribute to former PM Lal Bahadur Shastri at the Shastri Memorial in Tashkent.
Delegation-level talks with President Shavkat Mirziyoyev covered trade, critical minerals, defence, UPI , and education, per the MEA .
Modi was conferred the 'Oliy Darajali Do'stlik' Order — Uzbekistan's highest honour — by President Mirziyoyev.
The two leaders jointly planted a tree under India's 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' initiative and Uzbekistan's 'Yashil Makon' programme.
Modi will next travel to Kyrgyzstan for the 26th SCO Summit and the 6th World Nomad Games opening ceremony.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday, 30 August visited the Mahatma Gandhi Centre at Tashkent State University of Oriental Studies during his two-day State visit to Uzbekistan. Modi interacted with Indologists and students at the centre and signed the visitors' book, reinforcing India's cultural and academic ties with the Central Asian nation.
Tribute to Lal Bahadur Shastri
Earlier in the day, Modi paid tribute to former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri at the Shastri Memorial in Tashkent. Shastri served as India's Prime Minister from 9 June 1964 to 11 January 1966 and is remembered for coining the national slogan 'Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan'. In a post on X, Modi wrote: 'Paid homage to former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri Ji in Tashkent. We remember a towering statesman whose unwavering commitment to the nation continues to inspire generations.'
Delegation Talks and Bilateral Agenda
Modi held delegation-level talks with Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev at the Presidential Palace in Tashkent, reviewing the full spectrum of bilateral ties. According to a statement from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the discussions covered trade and investment, infrastructure, critical minerals, mining, defence and security, innovation, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, health, information technology, digital public infrastructure — including UPI — and education.
Uzbekistan's Highest Honour for Modi
President Mirziyoyev conferred upon Modi the 'Oliy Darajali Do'stlik' Order — Uzbekistan's highest civilian honour — in recognition of his contribution to strengthening friendship between the two countries. The two leaders also jointly planted a tree at the Presidential Palace under India's 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' initiative and Uzbekistan's 'Yashil Makon' green programme.
Cultural Highlights and Next Stop
Modi also witnessed a special yoga session featuring 52 practitioners from Uzbekistan, underlining the soft-power dimension of the visit. President Mirziyoyev personally welcomed Modi upon his arrival at Tashkent airport — a notable diplomatic gesture. After concluding his engagements in Uzbekistan, Modi is scheduled to travel to Kyrgyzstan for a two-day visit, where he will attend the 26th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit and the Opening Ceremony of the 6th World Nomad Games.
Point of View
It sets a template for the wider SCO neighbourhood. The 'Oliy Darajali Do'stlik' honour, combined with Mirziyoyev personally receiving Modi at the airport, signals Tashkent's intent to deepen ties at a pace that outstrips the formal diplomatic calendar. The real test will be whether the trade and critical minerals commitments translate into signed frameworks at the SCO Summit in Kyrgyzstan.
NationPress
30 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did PM Modi do at Tashkent State University of Oriental Studies?
PM Modi visited the Mahatma Gandhi Centre at Tashkent State University of Oriental Studies on 30 August, where he interacted with Indologists and students and signed the visitors' book. The visit was part of his two-day State visit to Uzbekistan.
What is the 'Oliy Darajali Do'stlik' Order conferred on PM Modi?
The 'Oliy Darajali Do'stlik' Order is Uzbekistan's highest civilian honour. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev conferred it on PM Modi in recognition of his contribution to strengthening friendship between India and Uzbekistan during the Tashkent visit.
What were the key areas discussed in India-Uzbekistan bilateral talks?
According to the Ministry of External Affairs, the talks covered trade and investment, infrastructure, critical minerals, mining, defence and security, innovation, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, health, IT, digital public infrastructure including UPI, and education.
Why did PM Modi pay tribute at the Shastri Memorial in Tashkent?
Former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri, who served from 9 June 1964 to 11 January 1966, passed away in Tashkent. The memorial marks his connection to the city, and Modi's tribute was a gesture of remembrance for a leader known for the slogan 'Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan'.
Where is PM Modi travelling after Uzbekistan?
After concluding his engagements in Tashkent, PM Modi is scheduled to travel to Kyrgyzstan for a two-day visit to attend the 26th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit and the Opening Ceremony of the 6th World Nomad Games.
