The founder and chairman of Bharti Enterprises, Sunil Bharti Mittal was awarded an Honorary Knighthood by King Charles III for playing a significant role in boosting economic ties between India and the United Kingdom. This makes the 66-year-old the first Indian citizen to receive the Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (KBE) under King Charles III. The award is conferred by the UK upon foreign nationals to recognise their contributions in different spheres and is one of the highest honours bestowed upon civilians by a British monarch. The honour recognises Mittal’s efforts to strengthen bilateral trade relations between India and the UK and his contributions to different sectors including education, technology and communication.