Quick answer: Cardiac surgeon Dr Devi Prasad Shetty, founder and chairman of Narayana Health, has been made a Knight (Chevalier) of France’s Ordre national du Mérite (National Order of Merit). The Consulate General of France in Bengaluru presented the honour on 5 November 2026 for his help to the French community during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Why Devi Shetty’s French honour is in the news
According to a PTI report carried by ThePrint, the Consulate General of France in Bengaluru conferred the Chevalier de l’Ordre national du Mérite on Dr Shetty on Thursday, 5 November 2026. Marc Lamy, Consul General of France in Bengaluru, spoke at the ceremony.
A Narayana Health statement said the award recognises his generosity and support to the French community in Bengaluru during the pandemic. The hospital group opened its doors to the French Consulate and the wider French community through vaccination drives and logistical help.
Key facts at a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Recipient | Dr Devi Prasad Shetty, cardiac surgeon; founder and chairman, Narayana Health |
| Honour | Chevalier (Knight) of the Ordre national du Mérite |
| Date | 5 November 2026 |
| Presented by | Consulate General of France in Bengaluru (Consul General Marc Lamy) |
| Reason | Support to the French community in Bengaluru during Covid-19 (vaccination and logistics) |
| Earlier Indian honours | Padma Shri (2004) and Padma Bhushan (2012), Medicine, from Karnataka |
What is the Ordre national du Mérite?
- Founded: on 3 December 1963 by President Charles de Gaulle.
- Rank: France’s second national order, after the Legion of Honour.
- Why it was created: the Grand Chancellery says it came out of a reform to cut down the many decorations created by different ministries, which had reached 70 decorations and 20 orders, and to restore the value of the Legion of Honour.
- Grades: Knight, Officer and Commander, plus the two higher dignities of Grand Officer and Grand Cross.
- Who heads it: the President of the Republic is Grand Master. A 12-member council chaired by the Grand Chancellor of the Legion of Honour runs the order.
- Ribbon: blue. Candidates normally need at least 10 years of service, against 20 years for the Legion of Honour.
- Open to foreigners: it honours French citizens and foreign nationals for civil and military service.
Legion of Honour vs National Order of Merit
| Feature | Légion d’honneur | Ordre national du Mérite |
|---|---|---|
| Position | France’s highest decoration | Second national order |
| Founded | 1802, by Napoleon Bonaparte | 1963, by Charles de Gaulle |
| Ribbon colour | Red | Blue |
| Minimum service (French citizens) | 20 years | 10 years |
| Annual intake (approx.) | About 2,000 French and 300 foreign nationals | About 3,800 French and 300 foreign nationals |
| Grades | Chevalier, Officier, Commandeur, Grand officier, Grand-croix | Same five grades |
Dr Devi Shetty and Narayana Health: static facts
- Born in 1953 at Kinnigoli in Dakshina Kannada, Karnataka; trained at Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore, and later in England.
- Performed India’s first neonatal heart surgery in 1992, on a 21-day-old baby, in Kolkata. He also treated Mother Teresa.
- Narayana Health (formerly Narayana Hrudayalaya) is a hospital network headquartered in Bengaluru. Its flagship, the Narayana Institute of Cardiac Sciences at Health City, Bommasandra, is among India’s largest heart hospitals.
- Known for cutting the cost of heart surgery through economies of scale. In 2009, The Wall Street Journal called him “the Henry Ford of heart surgery”.
Exam angle: how NDA, CDS and CAPF can ask this
- Foreign honours given to Indians are a regular “awards and honours” item in the CDS and CAPF general studies papers.
- Know the ladder of Padma awards: the Padma Bhushan is India’s third-highest civilian award and the Padma Shri the fourth-highest.
- India-France ties are a recurring theme. Read our note on the India-France strategic partnership.
Practice MCQs
Q1. Dr Devi Shetty was recently made a Chevalier of which French order?
(a) Légion d’honneur (b) Ordre national du Mérite (c) Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (d) Ordre de la Libération
Answer: (b) — conferred on 5 November 2026 in Bengaluru.
Q2. The Ordre national du Mérite was founded in 1963 by:
(a) Napoleon Bonaparte (b) François Mitterrand (c) Charles de Gaulle (d) Jacques Chirac
Answer: (c) — founded on 3 December 1963.
Q3. Which is France’s highest decoration?
(a) Ordre national du Mérite (b) Médaille militaire (c) Légion d’honneur (d) Croix de guerre
Answer: (c) — founded by Napoleon in 1802; it carries a red ribbon.
Q4. In which year did Dr Devi Shetty receive the Padma Bhushan?
(a) 2004 (b) 2008 (c) 2012 (d) 2016
Answer: (c) — 2012; he received the Padma Shri in 2004.
Frequently asked questions
Which French honour did Dr Devi Shetty receive?
He was made a Chevalier (Knight) of the Ordre national du Mérite, France’s National Order of Merit.
Who presented the award and when?
The Consulate General of France in Bengaluru presented it on 5 November 2026. Consul General Marc Lamy spoke at the event.
Why was he honoured?
For supporting the French community in Bengaluru during the Covid-19 pandemic, including vaccination drives and logistical help given through Narayana Health.
How is the National Order of Merit different from the Legion of Honour?
The Legion of Honour (1802) is France’s highest decoration and has a red ribbon. The National Order of Merit (1963) is the second national order, has a blue ribbon, and needs a shorter record of service.
Which Padma awards has Dr Shetty received?
He received the Padma Shri in 2004 and the Padma Bhushan in 2012.
Also read on NCA: India-France Strategic Partnership 2026 | Ayushman Vay Vandana | Monthly defence current affairs PDFs | CAPF coaching in Chandigarh
Sources: ThePrint (PTI), 5 November 2026, Grande Chancellerie: National Order of Merit, Grande Chancellerie: Legion of Honour, Padma Awards 2012 list, Wikipedia: Devi Shetty. Facts as reported up to 8 November 2026.
Featured image background (representative): GeorgeWilliams21 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
