On May 17, 2026, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi was conferred with the ‘Royal Order of the Polar Star, Degree Commander Grand Cross’ in a ceremony held in Gothenburg, Sweden. The honor was presented by Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden on behalf of the Swedish government.
**Key Details of the Award:**
* **Significance:** It is one of Sweden’s oldest and most distinguished honors, dating back to the 18th century. It represents Sweden’s highest honor for foreign Heads of Government.
* **Recognition:** The award recognizes exceptional public service and significant contributions toward strengthening bilateral relations between India and Sweden.
* **Historical Milestone:** Prime Minister Modi is the first Asian leader to receive this prestigious award.
**Event Highlights:**
* **Dedication:** The Prime Minister dedicated the honor to the 1.4 billion people of India and the enduring friendship between the two nations.
* **Strategic Impact:** The conferment marks a milestone in the India-Sweden Strategic Partnership, reaffirming civilizational bonds and a shared commitment to global peace, prosperity, and bilateral cooperation.
**Administrative Information:**
* **Posted On:** 17 MAY 2026, 11:13 PM
* **Source:** PIB Delhi, Prime Minister's Office
* **Release ID:** 2262091
* **Visitor Counter:** 640
* **Reference Codes:** MJPS/SS/VJ
Key Entities Referenced
Royal Order of the Polar Star, Degree Commander Grand Cross: Sweden's highest honour conferred on foreign Heads of Government for exceptional public service and strengthening bilateral relations.
India-Sweden Strategic Partnership: The bilateral framework for cooperation between India and Sweden aimed at advancing global peace, prosperity, and shared diplomatic goals.
Narendra Modi: The Prime Minister of India and the first Asian leader to be conferred with the Royal Order of the Polar Star.
Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden: The Swedish royal who conferred the national honour upon the Prime Minister during the ceremony in Gothenburg.
Gothenburg, Sweden: The location of the special ceremony where the international honour was conferred.
Prime Minister's Office
Prime Minister receives the Royal Order of the
Polar Star, Degree Commander Grand Cross in
Sweden
Posted On: 17 MAY 2026 11:13PM by PIB Delhi
In a special ceremony hosted in Gothenburg, Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden
conferred upon Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi the ‘Royal Order of the Polar Star, Degree
Commander Grand Cross,’ one of Sweden’s oldest and most distinguished honours, instituted in the 18th
century. The award is Sweden’s highest honour conferred on foreign Heads of Government in recognition
of exceptional public service and contribution towards strengthening relations with Sweden.
Speaking on the occasion, Prime Minister Modi expressed his deep gratitude to Her Royal Highness
Crown Princess Victoria and to the people of Sweden for this honour. He dedicated the award to the 1.4
billion people of India and to the enduring friendship between India and Sweden. Prime Minister Modi
noted that the conferment of the Royal Order of the Polar Star is a reaffirmation of the historic ties and
civilizational bonds between India and Sweden, and a tribute to the warmth and affection that unite the
two peoples. (Prime Minister Modi is the first Asian leader to be conferred the award.)
The conferment of the award marks a milestone in the India-Sweden Strategic Partnership and reflects the
shared commitment of the two countries to advancing bilateral cooperation and contributing to global
peace and prosperity.
***
MJPS/SS/VJ
(Release ID: 2262091) Visitor Counter : 640
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