Royal Order of the Polar Star Awarded to PM Modi
Why in the news
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was honoured by Sweden during a short halt in Stockholm, part of a week-long European visit that led to the Nordic-India Summit in Norway.
Key facts
- Award: Nordstjärneorden in Swedish, i.e. the Polar Star order, at Commander Grand Cross degree.
- Status: the top Swedish honour for a visiting head of government.
- Founded by King Fredrik I on 17 April 1748, making it one of the oldest existing orders of chivalry.
- Original purpose: civic merit, science, literature and institutional duty.
- 1975: reserved only for foreign citizens and stateless people with exceptional service to Sweden.
- Motto Nescit occasum (“It knows no decline”) alludes to Polaris, which never sets in northern skies; the star piercing the darkness of ignorance is an Enlightenment motif.
Insignia
| Element | Description |
|---|---|
| Badge | White-enamelled golden Maltese cross with a blue medallion and silver Polar Star |
| Ribbon | Pale blue edged in yellow, matching the Swedish national colours |
| Grand Cross extras | Collar, eight-pointed silver breast star, sash and badge |
Background
- An order of chivalry is an honour given by a state or monarchy for outstanding service; the idea began in medieval Europe.
- Other Swedish orders: Seraphim (highest, traditionally for kings, queens and heads of state), Sword (military) and Vasa (agriculture, industry, mining, commerce).
- Compare Indian honours: Bharat Ratna at the top, then Padma awards; gallantry awards include Param Vir Chakra, Maha Vir Chakra and Vir Chakra.
- Honours matter in diplomacy because they recognise lasting partnerships, signal strategic importance and build rapport between leaders.
- Nordic-India Summit: India with Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark and Iceland; held in 2018 (Stockholm), 2022 (Copenhagen), and now Oslo.
- Sweden: parliamentary constitutional monarchy under King Carl XVI Gustaf; Riksdag of 349 members; joined NATO in March 2024.
- Diplomatic ties with India since 1949; cooperation in green energy, defence (Saab Gripen), telecom, autos, urban planning, semiconductors and life sciences.
- Why Sweden honoured Modi: India’s rising global stature, stronger bilateral ties, his part in the Nordic-India Summit format, and wider Indo-Pacific cooperation.
- Swedish firms with strong India presence include Ericsson, Volvo, SKF, Sandvik, Atlas Copco, ABB, IKEA, H&M and Tetra Pak.
- A separate Valor Clasp recognises civilians who served in war zones, attached to the order’s medal.
- Insignia of an order are normally returned to the Royal Orders of Knighthood office (under the Marshal of the Realm) after a recipient’s death.
Modi’s other foreign honours (examples)
- UAE gave the Order of Zayed (2019); France the Legion of Honour at Grand Cross rank (2023); Egypt the Order of the Nile (2023).
- Others include Saudi Arabia (Abdulaziz Al Saud, 2016), Bhutan (Druk Gyalpo, 2024), Kuwait (Mubarak al-Kabeer, 2024), Russia (Order of St. Andrew, conferred 2024) and Greece (2023).
- The total is put at over 25 international honours.
- Non-state awards listed: UN Champion of the Earth (2018) and the Seoul Peace Prize (2018).
Exam angle
- Awarding country: Sweden; local name: Nordstjärneorden.
- Year founded: 1748; reform year: 1975.
- Related terms: order of chivalry, Nordic-India Summit.