Bhubaneswar:
The celebrations of the 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) began on Wednesday with around 6,000 non-resident Indians (NRIs), including business leaders, academicians, economists and philosophers from 75 countries set to participate in the conclave. Bhubaneswar in Odisha in the next three days. Pravasi Bharatiya Divas is an important occasion for New Delhi to celebrate and strengthen its ties with the global Indian community.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the event on January 9, which will include a wide range of activities highlighting the growing importance of India’s global engagement and the vital role of its diaspora in shaping the country’s future. The theme of the 2025 PBD Convention, to be held from January 8 to 10, is ‘Contribution of Overseas Indians to Developed India’.
On the occasion, Prime Minister Modi will also launch the Pravasi Bharatiya Express, a special tourist train designed for the Indian diaspora. This unique initiative is part of the Pravasi Teerth Darshan Scheme, which aims to provide members of the diaspora an opportunity to visit spiritual and cultural sites across India.
About Pravasi Bharatiya Divas
Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) is the major program of the government. It is celebrated on 9 January every year since 2003 to mark the contribution of the overseas Indian community to the development of India. January 9 was chosen to commemorate the occasion because, in 1915, this was the day when Mahatma Gandhi, then a non-resident, returned to India from South Africa and led India’s freedom struggle.
The PBD conference provides a platform for the Government to engage NRIs from various countries on key issues related to the Indian diaspora, in addition to networking opportunities for the expatriate participants.
Objectives of Pravasi Bharatiya Divas
The objective of PBD is to foster stronger ties between the Government of India and the Indian diaspora around the world, fostering a sense of belonging and shared identity.
The event serves as a platform for both India and their host countries to acknowledge and celebrate the contributions of the Indian diaspora in various fields including economics, culture and politics.
It also provides an opportunity for dialogue between the Government of India and the Indian diaspora on various policy issues, facilitating discussion on topics relevant to the Indian diaspora, such as visa regulations, investment opportunities and community welfare.
The event showcases various opportunities for NRIs in India, including investment opportunities, business partnerships and collaborative ventures, encouraging them to contribute to India’s development and much more.
Draft PBD Convention
The draft of the PBD Convention was revised in 2015. Since then, the main PBD Convention is held every alternate year or biennially with the participation of foreign diaspora experts, policy makers and stakeholders.
It is organized in partnership with one of the state governments hosting the PBD Convention. It allows the state to showcase its strength to the diaspora and helps in attracting investment and technology to the state.
The 15th PBD Conference was organized in Varanasi from January 21-23, 2019 in partnership with the Government of Uttar Pradesh. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 16th PBD Conference was held in virtual format on January 9, 2021.
The 17th PBD Conference was organized in Indore from January 8-10, 2023 in partnership with the Government of Madhya Pradesh. More than 3,500 NRIs from around 70 countries participated in the conference.
The 18th edition of the event is being held in Bhubaneswar, where the festivities began with the inauguration of the Youth Pravasi Bharatiya Divas by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya and Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi.
Vibrant Indian community abroad
Indians have emerged as one of the largest sources of remittances in the world. Currently, the Indian diaspora numbers 35.4 million, including 19.5 million persons of Indian origin and 15.8 million non-resident Indians. The United States has the largest number of persons of Indian origin â more than 2 million. The UAE has the highest number of non-resident Indians â over 35 lakh.
The Ministry of External Affairs engages with the Indian diaspora abroad through thematic programs and conferences aimed at promoting regional expertise on various topics, as well as connecting with the diaspora through various welfare schemes and programs and connecting the Indian diaspora with their homeland. Joins with the aim of promoting relations.
