Published By : Admin |
August 24, 2016 | 17:50 IST
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Cabinet approves introduction of the Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2016
Cabinet approves Bill to regulate surrogacy in India by establishing National Surrogacy Board at the central level
Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2016 to regulate the surrogacy services in the country
Surrogacy Bill to control unethical practices in surrogacy, prevent commercialization of surrogacy
Surrogacy Bill to prohibit potential exploitation of surrogate mothers and children born through surrogacy
The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for introduction of the "Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2016".
The Bill will regulate surrogacy in India by establishing National Surrogacy Board at the central level and State Surrogacy Boards and Appropriate Authorities in the State and Union Territories. The legislation will ensure effective regulation of surrogacy, prohibit commercial surrogacy and allow ethical surrogacy to the needy infertile couples.
All infertile Indian married couple who want to avail ethical surrogacy will be benefited. Further the rights of surrogate mother and children born out of surrogacy will be protected. The Bill shall apply to whole of India, except the state of Jammu and Kashmir.
The major benefits of the Act would be that it will regulate the surrogacy services in the country. While commercial surrogacy will be prohibited including sale and purchase of human embryo and gametes, ethical surrogacy to the needy infertile couples will be allowed on fulfilment of certain conditions and for specific purposes. As such, it will control the unethical practices in surrogacy, prevent commercialization of surrogacy and will prohibit potential exploitation of surrogate mothers and children born through surrogacy.
No permanent structure is proposed to be created in the Draft Bill. Neither there are proposals for creating new posts. The proposed legislation, while covering an important area is framed in such a manner that it ensures effective regulation but does not add much vertically to the current regulatory structure already in place at the central as well as states. Accordingly, there will not be any financial implications except for the meetings of the National and State surrogacy Boards and Appropriate Authorities which will be met out of the regular budget of Central and State governments.
Background:
India has emerged as a surrogacy hub for couples from different countries and there have been reported incidents concerning unethical practices, exploitation of surrogate mothers, abandonment of children born out of surrogacy and rackets of intermediaries importing human embryos and gametes. Widespread condemnation of commercial surrogacy prevalent in India has also been regularly published in different print-and electronic media since last few years highlighting the need to prohibit commercial surrogacy and allow ethical altruistic surrogacy. The 228th report of the Law Commission of India has also recommended for prohibiting commercial surrogacy and allowing ethical altruistic surrogacy to the needy Indian citizens by enacting a suitable legislation.
List of Highest National Honours and Global Awards Conferred on PM Narendra Modi
December 18, 2025
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been conferred highest civilian honours by several nations. These recognitions are a reflection of PM Modi’s leadership and vision which has strengthened India’s emergence on the global stage. It also reflects India’s growing ties with countries around the world.
Let us have a look at awards bestowed on PM Modi in the last ten years.
Awards Conferred by Countries:
1. In April 2016, during his visit to Saudi Arabia, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was conferred Saudi Arabia's highest civilian honour- the King Abdulaziz Sash. The Prime Minister was conferred the prestigious award by King Salman bin Abdulaziz.
2. The same year, PM Modi was bestowed upon the State Order of Ghazi Amir Amanullah Khan – the highest civilian honor of Afghanistan.
3. In the year 2018, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid a historic visit to Palestine, he was awarded the Grand Collar of the State of Palestine Award. This is the highest honour of Palestine awarded to foreign dignitaries.
4. In 2019, the Prime Minster was awarded the Order of Zayed Award. This is the highest civilian honour of the United Arab Emirates.
5. Russia conferred Prime Minister Modi with their highest civilian honour - the Order of St. Andrew the Apostle in 2019. The PM received the award during his visit to Moscow in July 2024..
6. Order of the Distinguished Rule of Nishan Izzuddin- the highest honour of the Maldives awarded to foreign dignitaries was presented to PM Modi in 2019.
7. PM Modi received the prestigious King Hamad Order of the Renaissance in 2019. The honour was conferred by Bahrain.
8. Legion of Merit by the US Government, the award of the United States Armed Forces that is given for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements was conferred on PM Modi in 2020.
9. Bhutan honoured PM Modi with the highest civilian decoration, Order of the Druk Gyalpo in December 2021. PM Modi received the award during his visit to Bhutan in March 2024
10. During his visit to Papua New Guinea in 2023, PM Modi was conferred with Ebakl Award by the President Surangel S. Whipps, Jr. of the Republic of Palau
11. PM Narendra Modi has also been conferred the highest honour of Fiji, Companion of the Order of Fiji in recognition of his global leadership. The award was conferred by PM Sitiveni Rabuka of Fiji.
12. Governor General of Papua New Guinea, Sir Bob Dadae conferred PM Modi with Grand Companion of the Order of Logohu. It is the highest honour of Papua New Guinea.
13. In June 2023, President Abdel Fattah El-sisi conferred Prime Minister Modi with the highest state honour of Egypt, the 'Order of Nile.'
14. On 13th July 2023, PM Modi was conferred with the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour, the highest award in France by President Emmanuel Macron.
15. On 25th August 2023, PM Modi was conferred with 'The Grand Cross of the Order of Honour' by President Katerina Sakellaropoulou of Greece.
16. Dominica honoured PM Modi with the ‘Dominica Award of Honour.’ It was presented to PM Modi by President Sylvanie Burton of Dominica during the Prime Minister's visit to Guyana in November 2024.
17. Nigeria honoured PM Modi with 'The Grand Commander of The Order of the Niger' during his visit in November 2024. It was presented to him by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of Nigeria.
18. Guyana honoured PM Modi with the ‘The Order of Excellence’ during the Prime Minister's visit in November 2024. It was presented to him by President Dr. Irfaan Ali.
19. PM Mia Amor Mottley of Barbados announced her government’s decision to honour PM Modi with the Honorary Order of Freedom of Barbados Award during the Prime Minister's visit to Guyana in November 2024. MoS Pabitra Margherita Ji received the award on behalf of PM from President Dame Sandra Mason of Barbados on 06th March 2025.
20. In December 2024, PM Modi was conferred the Mubarak Al-Kabeer Order by His Highness the Amir of Kuwait, Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al Sabah.
21. During PM Modi's visit to Mauritius in March 2025, President Dharambeer Gokhool conferred PM Modi with the Highest National Award of Mauritius, 'The Grand Commander of the Order of the Star and Key of the Indian Ocean'.
22. During PM Modi's visit to Sri Lanka in April 2025, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake conferred PM Modi with the highest Sri Lankan honour, the 'Sri Lanka Mitra Vibhushana' award.
23) PM Modi was conferred the 'Grand Cross of the Order of Makarios III' of Cyprus during his visit in June 2025. It was bestowed upon PM Modi by President Nikos Christodoulides.
24) PM Modi was conferred ‘The Officer of the Order of the Star of Ghana’ during his visit in July 2025. It was bestowed upon PM Modi by President John Dramani Mahama.
25) PM Modi was conferred ‘The Order of the Republic of Trinidad & Tobago’ during his visit in July 2025. It was bestowed upon PM Modi by President Christine Kangaloo.
26) PM Modi has been conferred with ‘The Grand Collar of the National Order of the Southern Cross’ during his visit to Brazil in July 2025. It was bestowed upon PM Modi by President Lula.
27) PM Modi has been conferred with ‘The Order of the Most Ancient Welwitschia Mirabilis’ during his visit to Namibia in July 2025. It was presented to PM Modi by President Dr. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah.
28) Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been conferred the ‘Great Honour Nishan of Ethiopia.’ It is Ethiopia’s highest honour. It was presented to PM Modi during his visit in December 2025 by PM Abiy Ahmed Ali.
29) During his visit to Muscat in December 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was conferred the First Class of the Order of Oman by the Sultan of Oman.
Apart from the highest civilian honours, PM Modi has also been conferred with several awards by prestigious organisations across the globe.
1. Seoul Peace Prize: It is awarded biennially to those individuals by Seoul Peace Prize Cultural Foundation who have made their mark through contributions to the harmony of mankind, reconciliation between nations and to world peace. Prime Minister Modi was conferred prestigious award in 2018.
2. United Nations Champions of The Earth Award: This is UN’s highest environmental honour. In 2018, the UN recognized PM Modi for his bold environmental leadership on the global stage.
3. First-ever Philip Kotler Presidential Award was given to Prime Minister Modi in 2019. This award is offered annually to the leader of a nation. The citation of the award said that PM Modi was selected for his “outstanding leadership for the nation”.
4. In 2019, PM Modi was conferred the ‘Global Goalkeeper’ Award by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. PM Modi dedicated the award to those Indians who transformed the Swachh Bharat campaign into a “people’s movement” and accorded topmost priority to cleanliness in their day-to-day lives.
5. In 2021, Global Energy and Environment Leadership Award by the Cambridge Energy Research Associates CERA was bestowed on PM Modi. The award recognizes the commitment of leadership towards the future of global energy and environment.
