Shubhanshu Shukla is an Indian astronaut who made history by spending more time in space than any other Indian before him. He broke a 41-year-old record set by Rakesh Sharma, India’s first astronaut. Shubhanshu Shukla spent 18 eventful days aboard the International Space Station (“ISS”). He was the first Indian to visit the ISS and only the second Indian to go to space after Rakesh Sharma.
As of July 15, 2025, Shubhanshu Shukla was reported to be returning to Earth. His journey back from the ISS began on July 14. Shubhanshu Shukla was the mission pilot for the Axiom Mission 4, a special spaceflight organized by NASA, SpaceX, and India’s space agency ISRO. During his stay, he conducted important scientific experiments, focusing especially on understanding muscle weakness in space and how to prevent it. He also collaborated with astronauts from other countries, demonstrating how space exploration brings nations together.
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In his farewell address from the ISS, Shubhanshu Shukla spoke about India’s growing journey in space exploration: “It has been an incredible journey. Even though it is coming to an end, for you and me there is a long way to go. The journey of our human space mission is long and difficult. But if we are determined, even the stars are attainable“. He also referenced India’s first astronaut, Rakesh Sharma, famously quoting the 1924 Urdu song “Saare jahan se achcha”, saying, “India looked better than the rest of the world”.
Since taking office in 2014, PM Narendra Modi has emerged as one of the most globally recognized Indian leaders, receiving 27 top-tier state awards from nations spanning Africa, the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, and beyond.
Here’s a detailed list of the top civilian awards conferred on PM Modi by 27 countries:
Country
Award Name
Year Bestowed
Saudi Arabia
Order of King Abdulaziz (Sash)
2016
Afghanistan
State Order of Ghazi Amir Amanullah Khan
2016
Palestine
Grand Collar of the State of Palestine
2018
United Arab Emirates
Order of Zayed
2019
Russia
Order of St Andrew the Apostle
2019
Maldives
Order of the Distinguished Rule of Nishan Izzuddeen
2019
Bahrain
King Hamad Order of the Renaissance (First Class)
2019
United States
Legion of Merit
2020
Bhutan
Order of the Druk Gyalpo (Dragon King)
2021/2024
Papua New Guinea
Grand Companion, Order of Logohu
2023
Fiji
Companion, Order of Fiji
2023
Palau
Ebakl Award
2023
Egypt
Order of the Nile
2023
France
Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour
2023
Greece
Grand Cross of the Order of Honour
2023
Dominica
Dominica Award of Honour
2024
Nigeria
Grand Commander, Order of the Niger
2024
Guyana
Order of Excellence
2024
Barbados
Honorary Order of Freedom of Barbados
2024
Kuwait
Order of Mubarak Al‑Kabeer
Dec 2024
Mauritius
Grand Commander, Order of the Star & Key of the Indian Ocean
Mar 2025
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka Mitra Vibhushana
Apr 2025
Cyprus
Grand Cross of the Order of Makarios III
June 16, 2025
Ghana
Officer, Order of the Star of Ghana
July 2, 2025
Trinidad & Tobago
Order of the Republic of Trinidad & Tobago
July 4, 2025
Brazil
Grand Collar of the National Order of the Southern Cross
July 8, 2025
Namibia
Grand Collar, Order of the Welwitschia Mirabilis
July 9, 2025
Significance of These Honours:
Strategic Recognition: Many of these awards coincide with important bilateral deals, strategic partnerships, or cultural diplomacy efforts.
India’s Rising Global Profile: The honours reflect how India is increasingly viewed as a key player in global governance.
Soft Power Diplomacy: Through these recognitions, India strengthens its soft power footprint — especially in Africa, the Middle East, and Pacific nations.
First Indian PM to receive such a large number of top foreign honours.
First foreign recipient of Bhutan’s Order of the Druk Gyalpo and Mauritius’s Grand Commander title.
Only Indian leader honoured by countries as geopolitically diverse as France, Brazil, Namibia, and Fiji.
Here are the most recent highest civilian awards received by PM Narendra Modi:-
Ghana
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was awarded Ghana’s highest national honor, the “Order of the Star of Ghana“, during his visit to the country. This prestigious award is given to individuals who have demonstrated outstanding leadership and made significant contributions globally. The honour was presented by Ghana’s President, John Dramani Mahama. It has also been bestowed upon notable leaders such as Nelson Mandela and Queen Elizabeth II. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Ghana is historic, as it marked the first time in 30 years that an Indian Prime Minister visited the country.
Trinidad and Tobago
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was conferred with “The Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago”, becoming the first foreign leader to receive the Caribbean nation’s highest civilian honour. At a special ceremony held at the President’s House, President Christine Kangaloo presented the award in recognition of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s statesmanship and his exceptional efforts in strengthening bilateralties between India and Trinidad and Tobago.
Brazil
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was conferred with Brazil’s highest civilian honour, “The Grand Collar of the National Order of the Southern Cross”, by President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, during his visit to the country. The award recognises the Indian Prime Minister’s contributions to deepening bilateral ties and enhancing cooperation between India and Brazil on regional and global issues. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has become the first Indian PM in 57 years to undertake a state visit to Brazil.
Namibia
Prime Minister Narendra Modi received Namibia’s highest civilian honour, the “Order of the Most Ancient Welwitschia Mirabilis”. This is the first visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Namibia and the third-ever prime ministerial visit from India to the country.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s international recognition through 27 prestigious awards is a remarkable chapter in India’s diplomatic history. These honours highlight his leadership, global influence, and India’s deeper ties with countries across the world.
Indian boxers, especially the women boxers, performed really well at the World Boxing Cup Kazakhstan 2025 in Astana. India won a total of 11 medals: 3 gold, 5 silver, and 3 bronze. This is India’s best-ever medal count at this event.
Other Indian boxers also did well, with several winning silver and bronze medals. Over 400 boxers from 31 countries competed, including many Olympians, making this a very important tournament. The good performances here help boxers earn points to qualify for the World Boxing Cup Finals, which will be held in New Delhi later this year.
President Droupadi Murmu conferred the 58th Jnanpith Award on Sanskrit scholar Jagadguru Rambhadracharya and renowned poet-lyricist Gulzar. This special award is given every year to writers who have made outstanding contributions to Indian literature. Gulzar could not attend the award ceremony because he was not feeling well. Instead, he received the award at his home in Mumbai, where his family and some close friends celebrated with him.
Gulzar is a very well-known poet, songwriter, and filmmaker. He writes mostly in Urdu and Hindi. He is famous for writing beautiful songs for movies and has also directed and written several popular films.
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Jagadguru Rambhadracharya is a respected Hindu spiritual leader, teacher, and writer. He is known for writing more than 240 books and four major epic poems in Sanskrit. He also founded an organisation called Tulsi Peeth in Chitrakoot.
The Jnanpith Award is a prestigious prize given every year to the best writers in India. Established in 1961, it is the oldest and most important literary award in the country. The award recognises authors who write in any of the many Indian languages or in English. It honours writers who have made outstanding contributions by creating stories, poems, or books that enrich Indian literature. Winners receive a special plaque, prize money, and a small statue of Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge and wisdom.
After a six-year delay, India is finally getting ready to count its population in a two-phase census that will conclude in 2027. It was originally due in 2021, but has been delayed several times since. The last census was conducted in 2011. For the snow-bound Himalayan regions, which includes the states of Uttarakhand, and Himachal Pradesh, and the region of Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir, the reference date will be October 1, 2026.
While for the rest of the country, the reference date will be March 1, 2027. This time, the Census will also ask about people’s castes (which are social groups in India), something that hasn’t been done across the whole country since 1931. The government says this will help them understand how different groups are doing and make better plans for schools, jobs, and other services people need. Reference date is the date to which population count relates.
A census is when the government counts all the people living in a country and collects information about them, like their age, where they live, and what they do.
