
This reflects India's rising stature on global stage: HM Shah on PM Modi getting Cyprus's highest civilian award
New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi for being honoured with Cyprus's highest civilian award, calling it an acknowledgement of his leadership and India's growing diplomatic standing worldwide.
'Congratulations to PM Shri @narendramodi Ji on being conferred with Cyprus's highest civilian award, the Grand Cross of the Order of Makarios III,' said HM Shah in a post on X.
Congratulations to PM Shri @narendramodi Ji on being conferred with Cyprus's highest civilian award, the 'Grand Cross of the Order of Makarios III.'This reflects the continuously rising stature of India on the global stage. This is the 21st international award given to our PM,… pic.twitter.com/UbG6OwuSOW — Amit Shah (@AmitShah) June 16, 2025
'This reflects the continuously rising stature of India on the global stage. This is the 21st international award given to our PM, making him one of the most decorated leaders in India's history,' he said.
I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the Government and people of Cyprus for conferring upon me 'The Grand Cross of the Order of Makarios III.'This isn't my honour. It is an honour for 140 crore Indians. I dedicate this award to the everlasting friendship between India and… pic.twitter.com/Q9p7LQGNfq — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 16, 2025
HM Shah said such honours not only acknowledge his leadership but also strengthen India's diplomatic standing worldwide.
Earlier, BJP leader Amit Malviya praised PM Modi's growing international popularity and described his 23 Global Honours as a reflection of the country's global ascent.
Malviya, in charge of the BJP's National Information and Technology Department, took to social media to celebrate PM Modi's latest honour and said, 'No Prime Minister of India has ever had such a profound global impact.'
'This is not just about one leader -- it reflects the rise of India's economic strength, strategic clarity, and diplomatic assertiveness on the world stage. And none of it would have been possible without the unwavering trust that 140 crore Indians have placed in Prime Minister Modi's leadership,' he wrote on X.
Malviya also reflected upon the shift in the country's diplomacy that has forced the world to acknowledge its potential.
'For the first time, India's foreign policy is unapologetically India First — clear-headed, confident, and consistent. The world is not just watching; it is acknowledging and respecting this new India,' he wrote.
Starting from 2016, Malviya listed the 23 global honours conferred on PM Modi over the past decade. From the Saudi Arabia's Order of King Abdulazis in 2016 to the UAE's Order of Zayed Award in 2019, the BJP leader also highlighted the 2020 US government's Legion of Merit awarded to PM Modi.
The list of PM Modi's Global Honours also included Bhutan's Order of the Druk Gyalpo in 2021 and Egypt's Order of the Nile, France's Grand Cross of the Legion and Greece's Grand Cross of the Order of Honour, all awarded in 2023.
Malviya's list of PM Modi's Honours received last year included Russia's Order of St. Andrew the Apostle, Kuwait's The Order of Mubarak Al Kabeer and awards given by Guyana, Barbados, Nigeria and Dominica.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


News18
34 minutes ago
- News18
Lalu Yadav And The Ambedkar Photo Controversy: How BJP Turned The 'Dalit' Table In Bihar In 12 Months
Last Updated: A viral photo of RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, appearing to disrespect a portrait of BR Ambedkar, has sparked outrage among Bihar's SC and ST communities In politics, a week is a long time, and a year feels like a lifetime. It is no wonder that after last May's Lok Sabha election results, when the BJP lost 28 seats in Uttar Pradesh and nine in Bihar, the party was uneasy. A year ago, it was grappling with how the slogan '400 paar' had been used against it by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, RJD, Samajwadi Party, and other opposition parties. They projected fears of reservation vanishing, which dearly cost the BJP. The SP called it a triumph of 'PDA' (pichda-dalit-adivasi) and the RJD claimed it as Dalits rejecting the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). But things have changed in Bihar, where an assembly election is scheduled later this year. A viral photo op has significantly shifted the political landscape. On RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav's birthday, a follower gifted him with a portrait of BR Ambedkar, which he seemingly did not acknowledge. The video shows the former chief minister of Bihar stretching his legs while the portrait is placed on the chair, appearing disrespectful. Ambedkar is revered by many backward communities in Bihar, where Scheduled Castes (SC) make up 19.65 per cent and Scheduled Tribes (ST) constitute 1.68 per cent of the population, as per a 2022 caste-based survey. This incident has angered over 20 per cent of Bihar's population, presenting an opportunity for the BJP just ahead of the elections. भारत को संविधान देने वाले बाबा साहेब डॉ. भीमराव अंबेडकर जी के अपमान से मन अत्यंत दुखित है।लालू यादव और राजद को न तो बिहार माफ करेगा और न ही देश!- माननीय केन्द्रीय कृषि मंत्री श्री @ChouhanShivraj #BabasahebAmbedkar #DalitVirodhiRJD — BJP Bihar (@BJP4Bihar) June 16, 2025 The BJP deployed its top leaders to capitalise on the incident, including former chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who carefully criticised Lalu Prasad without hurting Bihari pride. He stressed on the disrespect shown to Ambedkar, stating: 'I have one lament. What has happened to you, Lalu Yadav ji? All these talks of backwards were just for pretense? The man who gave us the Constitution, who gave us reservation, you are disrespecting that person — Dr BR Ambedkar! My mind is troubled. I am hurt. The disrespect shown to his photo exposes the real intent of Lalu Yadav and the RJD. The elephant has one set of teeth for eating and another just to show. Neither Bihar nor India will forgive Lalu ji or RJD ever." ये 'चित्र' नहीं, आरजेडी का 'चरित्र' है। #ShameOnLaluFamily #DalitVirodhiRJD #BabasahebAmbedkar — BJP Bihar (@BJP4Bihar) June 15, 2025 The Bihar BJP has been vigorously promoting this photo through social media, using hashtags like 'Dalit Virodhi RJD'. On Monday, it tweeted that five days had gone by without an apology from Lalu Yadav, attributing this to his 'pride". Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, who is from the Dalit community, also criticised Lalu Prasad, saying: 'One came with a photo of Bhimrao Ambedkar and he wanted to gift him (Lalu Prasad). The body language of Lalu ji indicates a pride, which was reflected even in the way he was sitting. Now that this matter has become so big and you have disrespected Babasaheb, but his pride stops him from apologising." Meghwal said disrespecting Ambedkar while claiming to support the unprivileged cannot go hand in hand. 'People of Bihar, in the coming days will teach Lalu ji a lesson," he added. Union environment minister Bhupendra Yadav, who was in charge of the BJP's 2020 Bihar polls, demanded an apology. 'Bihar's citizen hasn't forgotten the tenure of Lalu ji. During Lalu ji's reign, the most amount of injustices were perpetrated against extremely backwards and Dalits…He is so submerged in his pride…that scene itself depicts his pride. That is why India's poor, extremely backwards, those who believe in social justice, know the way Lalu ji kept the photo near his leg…it hurt me too. I personally think he should apologise," he said. Five days later, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav dismissed the issue saying: 'This is not even an issue. No one has insulted anyone…" The Bihar SC commission, however, thinks otherwise. It has issued a notice to Lalu Yadav for allegedly insulting Ambedkar on his birth anniversary, giving him 15 days to respond. As the BJP goes all out in Bihar, it is remarkable to see how much can change in a year in Indian politics. An election slogan or a photo op can indeed be decisive.


News18
36 minutes ago
- News18
PM Modi Arrives In Canada For G7 Summit, Set To Join World Leaders For Kananaskis Gathering
Last Updated: Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Canada's Calgary to attend the G7 Summit at Kananaskis. This marks his first visit to Canada in a decade. Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Calgary to attend the G7 Summit at Kananaskis, his first visit to Canada in a decade. The Prime Minister is set to discuss various topics of development, such as energy security, technology and innovation with world leaders. PM Modi, who is on a three-nation tour, on Monday evening (local time) arrived in Canada from Cyprus at the invitation of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. The Kananaskis gathering, scheduled on June 16 and 17, is the Prime Minister's sixth consecutive participation in the G7 Summit. 'At the Summit, the Prime Minister will exchange views with leaders of G-7 countries, other invited outreach countries and Heads of International Organisations on crucial global issues, including energy security, technology and innovation, particularly the AI-energy nexus and Quantum-related issues," the Ministry of External Affairs earlier said. In addition to this, Prime Minister Modi will also hold several bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the Summit, coming over a month after India's Operation Sindoor that had targeted terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam attacks. India-Canada Ties Carney's invitation to PM Modi to attend the G7 Summit signalled the new government's intent to repair the ties with New Delhi that plummeted to an all-time low over the killing of pro-Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. In October last year, India recalled its high commissioner and five other diplomats after Ottawa attempted to link them to the Nijjar case. India also expelled an equal number of Canadian diplomats. India had accused Justin Trudeau's government of allowing pro-Khalistani elements to operate from Canadian soil. Carney, an economist and political newcomer, took charge as Canada's new prime minister in March following the exit of Trudeau from the top office. After Trudeau's exit, New Delhi said it hoped to rebuild ties with Canada based on "mutual trust and sensitivity". In the last few months, the security officials of India and Canada resumed contact and both sides were looking at the possibility of appointing new high commissioners. Describing India and Canada as "vibrant democracies", the external affairs ministry said last week that New Delhi believes the forthcoming meeting between the prime ministers of the two countries on the sidelines of the G7 Summit will offer an important opportunity to exchange views and "explore pathways" to reset bilateral ties. During PM Modi's last visit in 2015, bilateral ties were elevated to the level of strategic partnership. Bilateral trade in goods in 2024 stood at USD 8.6 billion. India exported USD 4.2 billion and imported USD 4.4 billion worth of goods. Bilateral trade in services in 2024 stood at USD 14.3 billion, with India exporting USD 2.5 billion and importing USD 11.8 billion worth of services. The G7 summit comes amidst rising geopolitical tensions, including escalating tensions in the Middle East in the wake of the strikes between Iran and Israel, as well as a trade war triggered by US President Donald Trump's tariff policies. Trump arrived in Kananaskis Sunday for the G7 Summit and will have a bilateral meeting with Carney. The US leader is also expected to have bilateral meetings with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and President of Mexico Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo on the sidelines of the Summit. Canada assumed the annual rotating presidency of the G7 on January 1, 2025, with this marking the 50th anniversary of the G7 Summit. The Group of Seven (G7) is an informal grouping of the world's advanced economies – France, the US, the UK, Germany, Japan, Italy and Canada and the European Union. Its members meet annually at the G7 Summit to discuss global economic and geopolitical issues. India, the fifth-largest economy in the world, has regularly been invited to the Outreach session of the G7 Summit in the past few years. India has attended eleven G7 Summit Outreach sessions till date: 2003 (France); 2005 (UK); 2006 (Russia); 2007 (Germany); 2008 (Japan); 2009 (Italy); 2019 (France); 2021 (UK); Germany (2022), Japan(2023), and Italy (2024). According to a statement, the Outreach Segment of the 51st G7 Summit will have one session. The summit is expected to deliberate on pressing challenges facing the globe including the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the situation in West Asia. top videos View all Canada hosts one of the largest Indian diasporas abroad, accounting for nearly 4.5% of its population. This includes nearly 1.8 million Canadians of Indian origin (of which the Sikh population is roughly 770,000), and 1 million Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), who are in Canada in various capacities – students, skilled workers, temporary workers etc. Indian students have historically been the largest group of international students in Canada, comprising 41% in 2022. However, the recent tightening of immigration has impacted both Indian students' opportunities and Canadian universities' finances. First Published: June 17, 2025, 07:08 IST News world PM Modi Arrives In Canada For G7 Summit, Set To Join World Leaders For Kananaskis Gathering


India Gazette
38 minutes ago
- India Gazette
Amit Shah reviews preparation for forthcoming Census set to include caste enumeration in New Delhi
New Delhi [India], June 17 (ANI): Union Home Minister Amit Shah reviewed preparations for the upcoming Census of India, which is now officially set to include caste enumeration, as per the official statement from the Ministry of Home Affairs. The minister hailed this move as a 'historic decision' that corrected a 'historical wrong.' The notification to conduct the Census was published in the official Gazette on Monday, following a high-level meeting held in Delhi, where the Home Minister reviewed the plan along with the Union Home Secretary, Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India (RG&CCI), and other senior officials. According to the release, the Census 2027 will be the 16th Census since inception and the 8th since Independence. It will be conducted in two phases -- the House Listing Operation (HLO) followed by the Population Enumeration (PE). In the first phase, details of housing conditions, assets, and amenities of each household will be collected. The second phase will gather information on the demographic, socio-economic, and cultural aspects of individuals. The caste data will also be collected in this phase, according to an official's statements. Clarifying media reports that questioned the mention of caste in the Gazette, the Home Ministry reiterated that the inclusion of caste enumeration was clearly stated in the press releases dated April 30, June 4, and June 15, 2025. In a post on X, Union Home Minister Amit Shah welcomed the move, calling it a bold and just decision by the Modi government. He posted, 'The CCPA meeting held under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi today corrected a historical wrong by deciding in favour of the integration of caste enumeration with the population census, and sent the message of its firm commitment to social equity and rights for every section of the society.' Shah also targeted the opposition, stating, 'The Congress and its allied parties opposed caste enumeration when they wielded power for decades but made it their electoral plank when in opposition. This decision will empower all economically and socially disadvantaged sections, promote inclusion, and pave new paths for the progress of the underprivileged.' The Population Census 2027 will begin with a reference date of March 1, 2027, for most parts of the country. The reference date for snow-bound and non-synchronous areas such as Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand will be October 1, 2026. According to the official statement, around 34 lakh enumerators and supervisors and 1.3 lakh Census functionaries will be deployed for the exercise. This will be the first fully digital Census, using mobile apps and offering a self-enumeration option to citizens. Officials assured that stringent data security measures will be implemented during data collection, transmission, and storage. The last Census was conducted in 2011. A new round scheduled for 2021 was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, despite all initial preparations being completed. (ANI)