Context:
Recently, the Prime Minister of India conferred the Order of the Druk Gyalpo, Bhutan’s highest civilian award, by His Majesty the King of Bhutan.
More on the news
• Prime Minister Modi is the first foreign leader to be given this prestigious award.
• Bhutan’s King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck presented the award to Modi.
• He received the award during his visit to Bhutan.
• He got it for his remarkable contribution to strengthening India-Bhutan relations and his service to the Bhutanese nation and people.
• Modi expressed his gratitude for receiving the award and dedicated it to the people of India.
About ‘Order of the Druk Gyalpo’
• The ‘Order of the Druk Gyalpo’ is Bhutan’s highest civilian award.
• It was instituted as the award for lifetime achievement and is the pinnacle of the honour system in Bhutan, taking precedence over all orders, awards and medals.
• The King of Bhutan announced the conferment of the award during Bhutan’s 114th National Day celebrations at Thimphu in December 2021.
- Bhutan’s National Day: celebrated on December 17th every year since, the coronation of the first king of Bhutan, Gongsar Ugyen Wangchuk, in 1907.
Others to receive this award include:
• Her Majesty The Royal Queen Grandmother Ashi Kesang Choden Wangchuck in 2008.
• His Holiness Je Thrizur Tenzin Dendup in 2008
• His Holiness Je Khenpo Trulku Ngawang Jigme Choedra in 2018.
| List of awards and honours to the 14th Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi | ||||
| S. No | Award | Country | Date | Important Information |
| 1. | Oder of King Abdulaziz Al Saud | Saudi Arabia | 3 April 2016 | Highest Honour of Saudi Arabia awarded to non-Muslims. |
| 2. | State Order of Ghazi Amir Amanullah Khan | Afghanistan | 4 June 2016 | The highest civilian honour of Afghanistan |
| 3. | Grand Collar of the State of Palestine | Palestine | 10 February 2018 | The highest civilian honour of Palestine. |
| 4. | Order of Zayed | United Arab Emirates | 4 April 2019 | The Highest civilian honour of the United Arab Emirates. |
| 5. | Order of St. Andrew the Apostle | Russia | 12 April 2019 | Grand Cross with Collar, the highest civilian honour of Russia. |
| 6. | Order of the Distinguished Rule of Izzuddin | Maldives | 8 June 2019 | Collar, the highest honour of the Maldives awarded to foreign dignitaries. |
| 7. | King Hamad order of the Renaissance | Bahrain | 24 August 2019 | First Class, the third-highest civilian honour of Bahrain. |
| 8. | Legion of Merit | United States | 21 December 2020 | Chief Commander, the highest degree of the Legion of Merit |
| 9. | Order of Fiji | Fiji | 22 May 2023 | Companion, the highest civilian honour of Fiji. |
| 10. | Order of Logohu | Papua New Guinea | 22 May 2023 | Grand Companion, the highest civilian honour of Papua New Guinea |
| 11. | Order of the Nile | Egypt | 25 June 2023 | Collar, the highest civilian honour of Egypt. |
| 12. | Legion of Honour | France | 14 July 2023 | Grand Cross, the highest civilian honour of France |
| 13. | Order of Honour | Greece | 25 August 2023 | Grand Cross, the second-highest civilian honour of Greece. |
| 14. | Order of the Druk Gyalpo | Bhutan | 22 March 2024 | First Class, the highest civilian honour ofBhutan. |