Bhubaneswar:
The celebrations of the 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) kicked off on Wednesday, with around 6,000 Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) – including business leaders, academics, economists and philosophers, from 75 countries – expected to participate in the convention organized in Odisha's Bhubaneswar for the next three days. The Pravasi Bharatiya Divas mark an important occasion for New Delhi to celebrate and strengthen its relationship with the global Indian community.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the event on January 9, which will include a wide range of activities that highlight the growing importance of India's global engagement and the key role of its diaspora in shaping the country's future. The theme of the 2025 PBD Convention – which runs from January 8 to 10 – is 'Diaspora's contribution to a Viksit Bharat'.
On this 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 Teertha Darshan Yojana, aimed at providing members of the diaspora the opportunity to visit spiritual and cultural destinations across India.
About Pravasi Bharatiya divas
Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) is the government's flagship event. It has been celebrated on January 9 every year since 2003 to mark the contribution of the overseas Indian community to the development of India. January 9 was chosen as the day to celebrate this occasion because in 1915 it was the day when Mahatma Gandhi, then a non-resident, returned to India from South Africa and led India's freedom struggle.
The PBD Conventions provide a platform for the government to engage overseas Indians from various countries on important issues relating to the Indian diaspora, in addition to networking opportunities for diaspora participants.
Objectives of Pravasi Bharatiya Divas
The PBD aims to promote stronger ties between the Government of India and the Indian diaspora worldwide, and foster a sense of belonging and shared identity.
The event serves as a platform to recognize and celebrate the contributions of the Indian diaspora in various fields, including economics, culture and politics, to both India and their host countries.
It also provides an opportunity for dialogue between the Indian government and overseas Indians on various policy issues, facilitating discussions on topics relevant to the diaspora such as visa regulations, investment opportunities and community welfare.
The event showcases various opportunities for overseas Indians in India, including investment prospects, business partnerships and collaborations, and encourages them to contribute to India's development and much more.
Format of PBD Convention
The format of the PBD Convention was revised in 2015. Since then, the main PBD convention has been held every year or biennially with the participation of foreign diaspora experts, policy makers and stakeholders.
It is organized in collaboration with one of the state governments, which are hosting the PBD convention. It allows the state to showcase its strengths to the diaspora and helps attract investment and technology into the state.
The 15th PBD Convention, in collaboration with the Government of Uttar Pradesh, was held in Varanasi from January 21 to 23, 2019. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the 16th PBD Convention was held in a virtual format on January 9, 2021.
The 17th PBD Convention, in collaboration with the Government of Madhya Pradesh, was held in Indore from January 8 to 10, 2023. Over 3,500 NRIs from around 70 countries had attended the convention.
The 18th edition of the event is being organized in Bhubaneshwar where the festivities started with the inauguration of the Youth Pravasi Bharatiya Divas by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Mansukh Mandviya and Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi.
Vibrant Indian community abroad
The Indians have become one of the largest sources of remittances in the world. Currently, the Indian diaspora numbers 35.4 million people, including 19.5 million persons of Indian origin and 15.8 million non-resident Indians. The United States has the highest number of people of Indian descent: more than 2 million. The UAE has the highest number of non-resident Indians: over 3.5 million.
The Ministry of External Affairs engages with the Indian diaspora abroad through thematic events and conferences aimed at promoting sectoral expertise on various topics, as well as through various welfare schemes and programs aimed at interacting with the diaspora and promoting the ties of the Indian diaspora with their motherland.