India Celebrates Its 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas on 9th January 2024

Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) holds significance as a celebration of the accomplishments and invaluable contributions of the overseas Indian diaspora. It is commemorated on 9th January marking the historic return of Mahatma Gandhi from South Africa to India in 1915, which galvanized India's freedom movement. Instituted by the Government of India in 2003, it honors the Indian diaspora and their achievement.

Inception & Evolution

The Pravasi Bharatiya Divas convention was first organized in 2003 to connect the Indian diaspora community with the government. The Ministry of External Affairs and Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) joined hands to host the first edition in New Delhi. Since then, PBD conventions have been organized to facilitate networking, partnerships and cooperation.

In 2015, PBD was revamped into a biennial rather than annual event. In the interim years, theme-based PBD conferences are now held, focused on engagement with NRIs & PIOs, along with honoring distinguished diaspora members.

Historical Significance

Over the 17 past PBD editions, the PBD gatherings have strengthened the bond between the overseas Indian community and their ancestral homeland. They highlight the accomplishments of NRIs and PIOs across the world, build networks, enable cooperation and provide a unique opportunity to connect with India’s growth story. The 2023 PBD in Indore showcased recent diaspora success stories across different realms.

Theme of PBD 2024

The central theme of each PBD aligns with the present priorities and concerns of the Indian diaspora across the world. The 2021 PBD theme was “Contributing to Aatmanirbhar Bharat” in the backdrop of the 75th Independence Day anniversary. The 2023 PBD theme centered around “Diaspora: Reliable Partners for India’s Progress in Amrit Kaal” focusing on India’s vision for 2047. The tentative theme for 2024 is "Diaspora: Striving for Sustainable Development Goals" aligning with India’s sustainability focus.

Details of 2024 Convention

The 2024 Pravasi Bharatiya Divas will mark the 18th convention organized by the Ministry of External Affairs to celebrate Pravasi Bharatiya Divas. These conventions have been hosted by different cities in India over the past years including New Delhi, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, Kochi, Gandhinagar, Varanasi among others – providing visibility to diverse states and India's culture. The 2024 venue is yet to be announced.

Major Convention Highlights PBD conventions span 3 days packed with plenary sessions, cultural programmes, exhibitions, speeches by dignitaries, networking dinners and the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards ceremony. Prime Minister Modi inaugurated the 2024 PBD via video conferencing. Other key highlights include addresses by the Indian President, PBD inaugural session, debates, seminars led by experts showcasing Indian diaspora talents and achievements across literature, arts, business, spirituality etc.

Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards

The Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards instituted in 2003 are presented to select distinguished NRIs and PIOs to honor their spectacular contributions and service across various fields including arts, science, business, social service, philanthropy etc. In 2023, Gitesh Desai from Houston was awarded for community service and Dr. Mohan Agashe from Pennsylvania for medicine and NRI welfare activism.

Significance of PBD For overseas Indians

It is an opportunity to network with diaspora members, interact with political and business leadership and explore avenues to collectively participate in India’s growth via skill transfer, investment etc. For India, PBD helps tap into diaspora expertise & resources to power national development priorities in innovation, enterprise, technology etc. Overall, PBD underlines the unique bond between expatriate Indians and their motherland.

Pravasi Bharatiya Divas recognizes the special relationship between India and its vast diaspora community across the world. The annual PBD conventions celebrate their outstanding achievements and set the stage for mutually empowering partnerships towards realizing India’s developmental aspirations fueled by the passion, talent and resources of overseas Indians.