JAKARTA — India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi received Indonesia’s highest civilian honour, the Bintang Adipurna, on July 7 during a high-profile visit to Jakarta, adding to a growing collection of foreign state awards that now numbers at least 35.
The 75-year-old leader, one of India’s longest-serving prime ministers, has accumulated more foreign honours than recent predecessors and remains among the world’s most decorated sitting heads of government. In 2026 alone, Modi has accepted six state awards from countries including Slovakia, Norway and Israel, underscoring his active diplomatic outreach.
Analysts say such honours serve both diplomatic and domestic political purposes. “It’s a tool in forging relations and in strengthening relations, and countries do so because they want to strengthen their relationship with India and Modi,” said James M. Dorsey, senior fellow at Nanyang Technological University’s S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies.
Modi has faced criticism at home over the proliferation and timing of some awards. Opposition figures have questioned the credibility of newly created honours presented to him, pointing to cases such as the Seychelles’ Guardian of the Blue Horizon, established days before being conferred and apparent errors in accompanying citation documents. The Seychelles government defended the award as legitimate. The Medal of the Knesset from Israel, awarded earlier this year, also drew scrutiny after it was created shortly before Modi’s visit.
Supporters and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party have used the ceremonies to highlight India’s growing global stature. In Jakarta, Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto presented the medal to Modi, who described the honour as belonging “to the people of India” and a tribute to strong bilateral ties. The BJP said the award represented an endorsement of India’s diplomacy.