Why in News? 

His Highness Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the Amir of Kuwait, bestowed the Order of Mubarak Al-Kabeer, Kuwait's highest national honor, upon Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. 

The Order of Mubarak Al-Kabeer: Key Facts 

• Significance: It is Kuwait's highest honor, awarded to Heads of State, foreign sovereigns, and royal family members as a symbol of friendship and goodwill. 
• History: 
  • The award was instituted in 1974 in memory of Mubarak Al Sabah (Mubarak the Great), ruler of Kuwait from 1896–1915. 
  • Mubarak played a pivotal role in securing Kuwait’s autonomy from the Ottoman Empire and aligning with Britain in 1899 for protection. 
  • The award's design was updated in 1992 after Kuwait's liberation from Iraq. 
• Notable Recipients: 
  • Queen Elizabeth II, George HW Bush, Bill Clinton, King Salman of Saudi Arabia, Nicolas Sarkozy, and now Prime Minister Narendra Modi.