Lord Swraj Paul was on Tuesday appointed by the Queen as a member of her Privy Council, the British monarch's advisory group whose members include the Prime Minister, Cabinet ministers and other eminent personalities.
The 78-year-old NRI industrialist, the first Asian to hold the office of Deputy Speaker of the House of Lords, thus became the first India-born to be appointed to the Council, which also includes the Prime Ministers of Australia and Canada.
The Prime Minister's office announced the appointment which is for life. A Privy Councillor must be a British subject and has to take oath of allegiance to the sovereign.
The 469-year-old institution, once a key part of the executive power, was the supreme Legislative body till the 17th century. The Judicial Committee of the Council acts as the supreme appellate court in the Commonwealth.
The full Privy Council now meets to sign the proclamation of a new sovereign and when a monarch announces his or her intention to marry. There are regular monthly meetings of the Queen and a small number of relevant ministers to adopt the orders of the Council.
Lord Paul, Chairman of the Caparo group of industries which manufactures steel products, said, "I am honoured and delighted. It is a great honour for me and for India."
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