US President Trump confers Legion of Merit on PM Modi

    • The President of the United States of America conferred the highest decoration, The Legion of Merit, Degree Chief Commander, to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 21 December 2020.

    • The award is in recognition of the Prime Minister’s steadfast leadership and vision for India's emergence as a global power, and exemplary contribution made by him for the advancement of the India-United States strategic partnership and promoting global peace and prosperity.

    • The Legion of Merit, in the highest degree of the Chief Commander, is a prestigious award conferred by the President of the United States, typically upon Heads of State or Heads of Government of other countries.

    • The award was received on behalf of the Prime Minister by the Ambassador of India to the United States Taranjit Singh Sandhu.

    • At the ceremony, The Legion of Merit, Degree Chief Commander, was also awarded to the Prime Minister of Australia Scott Morrison, and former Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe.

Legion of Merit

The Legion of Merit (LOM) is a military award of the United States Armed Forces that is given for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements.

The decoration is issued to members of the eight uniformed services of the United States as well as to military and political figures of foreign governments.

(The author is a trainer for Civil Services aspirants. The views expressed here are personal.)