Prime Minister conferred with Namibia’s highest civilian award

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday was conferred with Namibia’s highest civilian honour, ‘The Order of the Most Ancient Welwitschia Mirabilis’, during his one-day state visit to the African nation. The award was presented by the President of Namibia, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, at a special ceremony, marking a new milestone in the ties between the two nations. Accepting the award, the PM dedicated it to the 1.4 billion people of India and to the historic and enduring partnership between India and Namibia. “I accept this honour with deep gratitude, and I dedicate it to the people of India and the timeless bond our two countries share,” the Prime Minister said, expressing his heartfelt thanks to Nandi-Ndaitwah and the people of Namibia. PM Modi is the first Indian leader to receive this honour. Established in 1995, the award recognises distinguished service and leadership. It is named after the Welwitschia Mirabilis, a unique desert plant found only in Namibia that symbolises resilience, longevity and the enduring spirit of its people.

PM Modi conferred Brazil's highest civilian award- Grand Collar of the National Order of the Southern Cross

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was conferred with Brazil’s highest civilian honour — the Grand Collar of the National Order of the Southern Cross. This marks the 26th international award received by Prime Minister Modi since he assumed office in May 2014. The award was presented by Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in recognition of PM Modi’s contributions to strengthening bilateral ties and advancing India–Brazil cooperation across major global platforms.

Established in 1822 by Emperor Pedro I, the National Order of the Southern Cross (Ordem Nacional do Cruzeiro do Sul) is Brazil’s highest honor bestowed exclusively upon foreign nationals. It recognizes individuals who have rendered exceptional service to Brazil or made significant contributions to strengthening Brazil’s international relations. The Grand Collar is the most distinguished rank within the order.

Over the years, the Grand Collar has been awarded to numerous eminent global leaders, including former U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower, Queen Elizabeth II, Pope John Paul II, former French President Charles de Gaulle, former Argentine President Juan Perón, former Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez, former Spanish King Juan Carlos I, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and Russian President Vladimir Putin.