That’s not a joke. It happened in Seychelles. And it’s not the first time. From Sweden to Ghana, India’s diplomacy seems more focused on collecting honorary titles than building real partnerships. Why does this matter? Because when your embassy’s top goal becomes getting a medal pinned on the PM’s lapel, you’re not protecting national interests; you’re staging photo ops. India doesn’t need flattery. We’re the world’s largest democracy, a nuclear power, a space-faring nation. We earn respect by negotiating smart deals, not by hunting trophies. Diplomats should be remembered for securing tech partnerships and defending citizens abroad; not for how many ribbons they collected. The real test? Did the trip improve lives back home? If the answer is no, then the award’s just noise.