Sunil Bharti Mittal has been named a Knight of France’s Legion of Honour for strengthening India-France ties. Established by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802, the honour has five ranks. Past Indian recipients include Shah Rukh Khan, Amitabh Bachchan and Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw.
Sunil Bharti Mittal, founder and chairman of Bharti Enterprises, has been named a Knight of the National Order of the Legion of Honour, France’s highest national order of merit, by French President Emmanuel Macron, according to news agency PTI .
The honour recognises Mittal’s contributions to strengthening economic ties between India and France, as well as his work in telecommunications and digital infrastructure.
The insignia will be presented to him at the French Embassy in New Delhi on October 28.
“I am moved and humbled by this gracious award from the Republic of France. My association with France began at Airtel’s inception in 1992, when Compagnie Générale des Eaux joined hands with Bharti to introduce mobile telephony in India. It continues today through my role as Co-Chairman of Eutelsat, the European satellite champion,” Mittal said in a statement.
French Ambassador to India Thierry Mathou said Mittal had been a friend of France for more than three decades, dating back to Airtel’s early days in 1992.
“Today he advances these relations as Vice-Chairman of Eutelsat, at a time when our two countries are moving forward jointly in space and digital technology,” Mathou said.
What is France’s Legion of Honour?
The National Order of the Legion of Honour, known in French as Légion d’honneur, is France’s highest national order of merit. Established by Napoleon Bonaparte on May 19, 1802, it recognises distinguished service and exceptional contributions across civilian and military fields.
The order has five ranks: Knight (Chevalier), Officer (Officier), Commander (Commandeur), Grand Officer (Grand Officier) and Grand Cross (Grand-croix).
Mittal has been named a Knight, the order's entry-level rank.
Other Indian recipients of the Legion of Honour
Several prominent Indians from business, cinema and other fields have received the French distinction over the years.
Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw (2016): The Biocon chairperson and managing director was recognised for her contributions to biotechnology, biosciences and global research.
Manish Arora (2016): The Indian fashion designer received the honour in recognition of his work in fashion.
Shah Rukh Khan (2014): The actor was honoured for his contribution to Indian cinema and his cultural influence.
Amitabh Bachchan (2007): The veteran actor received the distinction for his contribution to cinema.
Mittal’s other major honours
The Legion of Honour adds to Mittal’s list of prominent national and international recognitions.
In 2024, he became the first Indian to receive the honorary title of Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (KBE) from King Charles III, according to the announcement at the time.
In India, Mittal was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 2007, one of the country’s highest civilian honours, for his contribution to trade and industry.
With inputs from PTI.
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Bhanu Pratap
Bhanu Pratap is a journalist who reports and writes on foreign affairs, India’s foreign policy, geopolitics and strategic affairs. He closely follows diplomatic developments in New Delhi and has a keen interest in defence and national security.<br> <br> Bhanu also focuses on in-depth, interview-based reports and regularly speaking with experts and policymakers to bring perspectives and context to major developments around the world.<br> <br> He is also interested in stories with strong humanitarian angles.<br><br> One such report examined the cases of Indian nationals who were allegedly recruited and forced into Russia’s war against Ukraine. While reporting the story, Bhanu spoke to the families of those affected and documented their experiences. The report was later taken into account by the United Nations in its findings on human rights violations linked to the war in Ukraine.<br> <br> For Bhanu, the zeal to produce meaningful and impactful journalism remains at the heart of his work.<br> <br>He has previously worked with Firstpost, NDTV, Newslaundry and Republic.<br><br> Bhanu studied at the Delhi School of Journalism, University of Delhi. He initially chose science with plans to pursue engineering, influenced by conventional expectations, but fate had other plans and eventually led him to journalism.<br><br> Beyond the newsroom, Bhanu enjoys exploring culture and history and often spends his days off on heritage walks. He is also passionate about travelling, biking and listening to folk music.<br> <br>For tips, reviews and suggestions, you can reach him at bhanu.pratap@htdigital.in.