Victoria /New Delhi, 28 June (H.S.): Prime Minister Narendra Modi was conferred the prestigious 'Guardian of the Blue Horizon' honour by Seychelles President Dr. Patrick Herminie at a special ceremony on Sunday during his official visit to the island nation.

The award was presented in recognition of the Prime Minister's global leadership in environmental sustainability, his efforts to advance the interests of developing countries, and his long-standing commitment to promoting the Blue Economy, climate action, sustainable management of marine resources and the development aspirations of Small Island Developing States (SIDS). This is the first time the honour has been awarded.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs, Prime Minister Modi dedicated the award to all nations committed to protecting the environment and addressing the challenges posed by climate change. He emphasised that the recognition would further strengthen the special friendship between India and Seychelles as the two countries celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations.

The Ministry said the honour recognises the Prime Minister's enduring commitment to building a greener planet through several major global and national initiatives. These include the International Solar Alliance, Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment), the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' campaign and the International Big Cat Alliance. The latest recognition adds to a growing list of international honours acknowledging his efforts to promote sustainable development.

Earlier, Prime Minister Modi had received several prestigious international recognitions, including the FAO Agricola Medal, the Seoul Peace Prize and the United Nations' Champions of the Earth Award.

The Ministry stated that the honour reflects Seychelles' recognition of India as a trusted partner in capacity building, environmental action, sustainable development initiatives and advancing shared priorities across the Indian Ocean region.

Notably, with this latest recognition, Prime Minister Modi has now been honoured with the highest civilian award by 34 countries.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar