Jawed Ashraf received Commandeur de la Légion d’Honneur

Exam-focused facts from the 21 March 2026 current affairs briefing.

Key facts

France conferred the Commandeur de la Légion d’Honneur on former Indian ambassador to France Jawed Ashraf for strengthening bilateral relations.
Ashraf served as Indian envoy to France during 2020-2024 and joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1991.
He was presented the award by French ambassador Thierry Mathou at the French embassy on a Wednesday.
After retirement in 2024 Ashraf was appointed chairman of the Indian Trade Promotion Organisation.
During his tenure India purchased 36 Rafale combat jets and advanced joint defence manufacturing with France.
Ashraf is the first Indian diplomat and the eighth Indian overall to receive the Commander rank of the Legion of Honour.