Prime Minister Narendra Modi was conferred Norway’s highest civilian honour — the “Grand Cross of the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit” — during his official visit to Oslo, marking another significant milestone in India’s growing diplomatic stature on the global stage. The honour was presented by King Harald V of Norway in recognition of PM Modi’s contribution to strengthening India-Norway relations and his global leadership.
The award is the highest grade under the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit and is bestowed upon foreign Heads of Government and distinguished international personalities for exceptional service in advancing Norway’s interests and promoting international cooperation. With this recognition, PM Modi has now received 32 international honours from countries across the world.
The honour came during PM Modi’s landmark visit to Norway — the first by an Indian Prime Minister to the Nordic nation in over four decades. During the visit, Modi held bilateral talks with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and met King Harald V and Queen Sonja at the Royal Palace in Oslo.
Expressing gratitude after receiving the award, PM Modi dedicated the honour to the people of India and to the enduring friendship between India and Norway. In a message posted on social media, he said the recognition reflected the “shared commitment to global progress” between the two nations.
The visit focused heavily on expanding cooperation in trade, clean energy, maritime industries, green technologies, research and investment. PM Modi and his Norwegian counterpart jointly inaugurated the India-Norway Business and Research Summit, where discussions centred on boosting bilateral trade and strengthening technological collaboration. Norway also announced a massive investment framework reportedly worth nearly USD 100 billion aimed at supporting India’s infrastructure, technology and sustainable energy sectors.
Both leaders also discussed the India-EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement, with India seeking stronger investment ties with Norway’s sovereign wealth fund — one of the world’s largest investment funds. Bilateral trade between India and Norway stood at approximately USD 2.73 billion in 2024, and both countries expressed optimism about significantly expanding economic engagement in the coming years.
Strategic and geopolitical issues also featured prominently during the discussions. PM Modi thanked Norway for standing with India against terrorism and reiterated India’s position that global conflicts, including those in Ukraine and West Asia, must be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy rather than military confrontation.
Notably, the Norwegian honour came just a day after PM Modi received Sweden’s prestigious “Royal Order of the Polar Star, Commander Grand Cross,” making it the second top civilian recognition awarded to him during his ongoing Europe tour. Analysts view the back-to-back honours from Nordic nations as a reflection of India’s increasing strategic relevance and strengthening ties with Europe in areas such as clean energy, technology, innovation and global governance.