Pravasi Bharatiya Divas

What is Pravasi Bharatiya Divas?

Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) is the flagship event of the Ministry of International Affairs (MOIA), India. It is organized on 9th January every year since 2003. It is celebrated in India every year to mark the contribution of the Overseas Indian community to the development of India. The main aim of Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) conventions is to connect India to its vast overseas diaspora and bring their knowledge, expertise, and skills on a common platform.

The history behind Pravasi Bharatiya Divas celebration

On January 9, 1915, Mahatma Gandhi, the greatest Pravasi, returned to India from South Africa, and led India’s freedom struggle, and changed the lives of Indians forever. Hence, this date was chosen as the day to celebrate this occasion.

Established in 2000, it is sponsored by the Ministry of External Affairs of the Government of India and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), the Confederation of Indian Industries and the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region.

PBD conventions are being held every year since 2003. Since then 15 PBDs have been celebrated in different cities of India each year.

How Pravasi Bharatiya Divas is celebrated?

The occasion is marked by special programs to recognize the contributions of NRI/PIO individuals of exceptional merit, felicitate NRI/PIO individuals who have made exceptional contributions in their chosen field/profession (Pravasi Bharatiya Samman (Hindi: NRI/PIO Award)) and provide a forum to discuss issues and concerns of people of the diaspora. Thousands of delegates all over the world participate in the conventions.

In which countries is Pravasi Bharatiya Divas celebrated?

Each year a city is selected to celebrate the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas. Here is the list of the cities where the conventions were held in the previous years.