Founder and Chairman of Bharti Enterprises Sunil Bharti Mittal has become the first Indian citizen to be awarded an honorary Knighthood by Britain’s King Charles III. The prestigious accolade was conferred to him “for services to UK and India business relations”.
In a list of honorary British awards released by the UK Cabinet Office, Mittal is granted a KBE (Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire), one of the highest honours bestowed by the British monarch. The 66-year-old expressed his gratitude, stating he was “deeply humbled” by the recognition from King Charles.
The KBE is bestowed upon foreign nationals for their pre-eminent contributions in any field of activity. While UK nationals awarded the honor are entitled to the title of Sir or Dame, non-UK recipients append KBE (or DBE for women) after their name.
“The UK and India have historical relations, which are now entering a new era of increased cooperation and collaboration. I remain committed to working towards strengthening the economic and bilateral trade relationships between our two great nations,” Mittal said.
“I am thankful to the government of the UK, whose support and keen attention to the needs of business has been critical in making the country an attractive investment destination,” he said.
Mittal joins a distinguished list of Indian luminaries who have received the Honorary KBE, including Ratan Tata, Ravi Shankar, and Jamshed Irani, previously honored by the late Queen Elizabeth II. The investiture ceremony, where Mittal will be formally presented with the royal insignia, will be conducted by the British High Commissioner to India at a later date.
The honorary Knighthood acknowledges Bharti Enterprises’ significant contributions to the India-UK bilateral relationship, particularly in satellite communications. Mittal’s leadership in the revival of OneWeb (now Eutelsat), in collaboration with the UK government and strategic investors, has been instrumental in offering satellite broadband services globally.
Mittal’s strong ties with the UK extend beyond business. He is actively involved in academia, serving on advisory boards of prestigious institutions such as the University of Cambridge and the London Business School. In 2019, Bharti’s Airtel Africa was listed on the London Stock Exchange, further solidifying Mittal’s impact on the global stage.
(With inputs from agencies)