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The French Government has decided to confer a top civilian honour – Commander of the Legion of Honneur – on India’s former envoy to Paris Jawed Ashraf. The 1991 batch IFS officer is currently the Chairman of Indian Trade Promotion Organization (ITPO). He has served as Indian Ambassador to Singapore and Joint Secretary in PMO before superannuating last year.
The announcement was made by the French Secretary General for Foreign Affairs Anne Marie Descot in front of a large gathering at Jawed Ashraf’s farewell reception on 19 December 2024 for his contribution to the promotion of India-France Strategic Partnership. The formal ceremony to confer the insignia is being done by the French Ambassador on March 18, 2026 at a ceremony in the Capital.
Instituted in 1802, the Legion of Honneur is the highest category of French civilian award. Within the Legion of Honneur, there are several levels or degrees, similar to the Padma Awards. The Grand Cross, followed by Grand Officer, the Commander and then Officer and the Chevalier.
Prime MInister Narendra Modi was accorded the highest level of Grand Cross in July 2023. There has been no recipient of the Grand Officer since 1956.
Whie there are many recipients of the Officer and the Chevalier of the Legion of Honour from India, the Commander of the Legion d’honneur has so far been awarded to only seven Indians so far. They are JRD Tata, Ratan Tata, Prof Amartya Sen, Pandit Ravi Shankar, Satyajit Ray, painter S H Raza and singer Manna Dey. The last Indian recipient was Ratan Tata in 2016. Jawed Ashraf becomes the first Indian Ambassador to receive this honour.
During his three year stint as Indian Ambassador to France, New Delhi and Paris took huge steps in defence cooperation including the acquisition of 36 Rafale Fighter jets by the Indian Air Force apart from long range stand-off weapons and missiles. Ashraf promoted India-France joint development and venture in defence sector including developments of submarines and underwater drones.
The big honour to the former Indian envoy comes days after French President Emmaneul Macron concluded his visit to India. He was also the Chief Guest for the 75th Republic Day celebrations in 2024. Besides, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was the Guest of Honour at Macron’s invitation in 2023.
India and France have been going strong on trade, investment and digital technology collaboration.
As reported by HT earlier, a French firm and a lab under India’s DRDO have joined hands to develop and produce 120 Kilo Newton engine which will power India’s twin engine Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) fighter.
Besides, a joint venture was also signed for the manufacturing of Hammer missiles between the chairman of Bharat Electronics Limited and executive vice president of Safran Electronics and Defence.
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