PM Modi Awarded Brazil’s Grand Collar Honour

Brazil, 9 July 2025:

During his state visit to Brazil, the top civilian accolade of the country, Grand Collar of the National Order of the Southern Cross, which is the highest award in Brazil, was awarded to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The award was conferred by Brazilian head of state Luiz Inaio Lula da Silva in the palace of Alvorada in a spectacular ceremonial protocol over which a 114 horse cavalcade of honor was arranged.

Mr Modi, who came to Brazil having attended BRICS Summit, referred to honour as being a moment of immense pride and emotion not only on his part but on behalf of 140 crore Indians, which he followed with a comment, I would like to specially thank [President Lula], the Brazilian government and people of Brazil. Having received the honour, he tweeted: “I am honoured to have been honoured with the ‘The Grand Collar of the National Order of the Southern Cross.’ To President Lula, Government and the people of Brazil, many thanks. This depicts how the people of Brazil love the people of India so much.”  

The award acknowledges Mr Modi with his immense efforts to promote and foster the relationship and cooperation between India and Brazil on the regional and global powers like BRICS and G20 among other powers of the world It also highlights the efforts that Delhi continues to make towards making deeper strategic relations with the countries of Latin America.

Prime Minister of India has emphasised that the honoured was a personal achievement but also a recognition to the lifelong relationships of friendship between the two democracies. According to him President Lula had been the creator of the India- Brazil Strategic Partnership and he had the credit of taking bilateral relationship between the countries to newer heights.

The award adds to the list of 26 international accolades received by Mr Modi since May 2014 that shows he is among the leaders of India who are best known to the world. He has also been presented with the highest civilian honors of various other countries such as Cyprus, Sri Lanka, Ghana, Trinidad & Tabago and France.

According to the Brazilian government, the decoration is accorded to foreign heads of state and is given to the people whose outstanding services to Brazil are appreciated. In this manner, Mr Modi is among the list of world leaders who have been bestowed with the Grand Collar.

During this state visit, India and Brazil are expected to sign some bilateral agreements including trade, energy, defence, agriculture, science and culture. The award is seen by analysts as a step towards future cooperation, in particular in innovation areas like green technology, digital transformation or space cooperation.

The conferring of the highest Brazilian award upon Prime Minister Modi makes a landmark in the journey of India and Brazil over the years. With the development of dialogue on mutual efforts, the prize will probably become an energy stimulus in strategic interactions as well as in the people to people relations.