• Prime Minister Narendra Modi was conferred with the Grand Cross of the Order of Makarios III of Cyprus, the country’s highest civilian honour.

• Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides conferred the award on the Prime Minister.

• The Order of Makarios III is the senior order of knighthood awarded by the country named after the first President of Cyprus, Archbishop Makarios III.

• The Order of Makarios III was established in 1991

• Prominent personalities have received honorary distinctions from Cyprus over the years. These distinctions constitute an acknowledgment of either the overall impact or a particular contribution of such personalities.

• The distinctions are always awarded by the President. 

They are the following:

i) Grand Collar of the Order of Makarios III

ii) Grand Cross of the Order of Makarios III

iii) Grand Commander of the Order of Makarios III

iv) Commander of the Order of Makarios III

v) Officer of the Order of Makarios III

vi) Knight of the Order of Makarios III.

• PM Modi is in Cyprus on the first leg of his three-nation tour.

• In Cyprus, PM Modi will hold talks with President Nikos Christodoulides to strengthen bilateral ties.

• PM Modi is on a four-day, three-nation tour to Cyprus, Canada and Croatia. 

• From Cyprus, he will travel to Canada to attend the G7 summit. 

• He will reach Canada on June 16, at the invitation of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.

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