Prime Minister Narendra Modi received Bhutan’s highest civilian award, the ‘Order of the Druk Gyalpo’, during his two-day State visit to the neighbouring nation last week. He is the first foreign Head of the Government to receive the honour. Bhutan’s king Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck presented Modi with the honour, which was announced during the 114th National Day celebrations on December 17, 2021.
The award has been conferred on PM Modi in recognition of “his outstanding contribution to the growth of India-Bhutan relations and for his distinguished service to the Bhutanese nation and people,” the statement said. This is PM Modi’s third visit to Bhutan since he took over as the prime minister in 2014, with the first two visits in 2014 and 2019.
India announces doubling of aid to the country
During the visit, PM Modi announced India’s decision to double assistance for the Himalayan state’s 13th five-year-plan from £500 million to 1,000 million. Amid efforts by Bhutan and China to resolve their border dispute, which could have a bearing on India’s security, India and Bhutan expressed satisfaction with their cooperation on mutual security, agreeing in a joint statement to continue coordination on “issues relating to our national interests”.
India and Bhutan also signed seven MoUs and agreements, while initiating another for rail links between the two countries, as Modi held talks with his counterpart Tshering Tobgay, who received him at Paro airport, and called on King Jigme Namgyel Wangchuck.
Modi had committed to stepping up support for Bhutan during Tobgay’s visit to India last week. Modi strongly backed the King’s initiatives like Brand Bhutan and Bhutan Believe, along with the Gelephu Mindfulness City project which, he said, will act as an inspiration for the world, like the “visionary framework” of Gross National Happiness. These initiatives are important for Bhutan to achieve its aim of becoming a high-income country by 2034.