The Union cabinet on Wednesday lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his successful visits to the United States and Egypt and thanked him for providing his leadership to the country.

All the ministers congratulated the prime minister at the beginning of the cabinet meeting, Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur said, adding that his foreign tour showed how the world is recognising India's leadership.

"All the ministers thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the historic tour of the United States and Egypt. The Cabinet congratulated and thanked Prime Minister Modi for the leadership given to India and that world is now looking at India," he told reporters at the cabinet briefing after the meeting. He said it is for the first time in the country's 75-year history that an Indian prime minister has addressed the US Congress for the second time, during which he received a standing ovation and applauds several times.

Thakur said the prime minister also led the International Yoga Day celebrations at the United Nations headquarters where representatives of 135 countries participated. "This shows how India's leadership is being recognised," he said.The minister said the US President, who normally attends a few functions during a state visit, remained present with Prime Minister Modi during the three days at various functions.

Modi returned to India in the early hours of Monday after his six-day state visits to the US and Egypt during which several landmark agreements were signed. The prime minister had embarked on his visit to the US on June 20 and in New York, he led a historic event at the UN Headquarters to commemorate the 9th International Day of Yoga on June 21.

Later, in Washington DC, he was given a red-carpet welcome at the White House by President Joe Biden. The two leaders held a historic summit on June 22, followed by Modi's address to the Congress and a State Dinner hosted at the White House by the Bidens in his honour.

The visit was marked by several major deals to boost cooperation in key areas such as defence, space and trade.