The Pravasi Bharatiya Divas is celebrated on 9th January since 2003 to mark the contribution of the Overseas Indian community in the development of India.
Key Takeaways
A High-Level Committee on Indian Diaspora, headed by jurist and Parliamentarian LM Singhvi, had recommended in January 2002 that the government must renew and strengthen linkages of overseas Indians to their place of origin, and with each other.
The committee recommended that a Pravasi Bharatiya Bhavan should be set up to emerge as the focal point for networking between India and its overseas Indian community; and as a suitable place which to commemorate the stories of the Indian Diaspora. The idea of a day to have the government recognise the community flowed from this, and was held in 2003.
January 9 was chosen as the day to celebrate this occasion since it was on this day in 1915 that Mahatma Gandhi returned to India from South Africa, led India’s freedom struggle, and changed the lives of Indians forever. Since 2015, the centenary year of Gandhi’s return, the format was revised for the meeting to be held once every two years.
The 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention is being organized in partnership with the State Government of Odisha from 08-10 January 2025 in Bhubaneswar. This year’s theme of Pravasi Bharatiya Divas is “Diaspora’s Contribution to a Viksit Bharat”, aimed at celebrating the bond between India and its overseas Indian community, the MEA statement said.
The PBD Convention will have five thematic plenary sessions –
(i) Beyond Borders: Diaspora Youth Leadership in a Globalized World;
(ii) Building Bridges, Breaking Barriers: Stories of Migrant Skills;
(iii) Green Connections: Diaspora’s Contributions to Sustainable Development;
(iv) Diaspora Divas: Celebrating Women’s Leadership and Influence – Nari Shakti;
(v) Diaspora Dialogues: Stories of Culture, Connection and Belongingness.
As India marks 10 years of the Act East Policy, Odisha, given its vast coastline, well-developed ports and abundant natural resources offer huge economic opportunities to investors and business stakeholders in the ASEAN region and the Indo-Pacific, officials say. The state leads in mining, iron and steel manufacturing, marine economy, sports, skilling and even knowledge economy. Several Indian IT companies have established bases in Odisha. The PBD event would be an opportunity to showcase what Odisha has to offer the world.
Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award (PBSA)
An award called The Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award is given out as part of the Pravasi Bharatiya programme. According to the official website, “It is the highest honour conferred on a Non-Resident Indian, Person of Indian Origin; or an organisation or institution established and run by them.”
The award is to commemorate the contribution of the Indian diaspora to create a better understanding of India abroad, support India’s causes and work for the welfare of the local Indian community.
As many as 27 individuals and organisations will be honoured this year, from countries like the US, Fiji, Guyana, Mauritius, Moldova, Myanmar, Russia and Saudi Arabia. President Droupadi Murmu will confer the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman during the valedictory session of the PBD Convention.
Classification of Overseas Indians
Overseas Indians are classified into three categories: Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs), and Overseas Citizens of India (OCIs).
NRIs are Indians who are residents of foreign countries. The PIO category was abolished in 2015 and merged with the OCI category.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs, PIO refers to a foreign citizen (except a national of Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, China, Iran, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and Nepal) who at any time held an Indian passport, or who or either of their parents/grandparents/great-grandparents was born and permanently resided in India as defined in the Government of India Act, 1935, or who is a spouse of a citizen of India or a PIO.
A category of OCI was carved out in 2006. An OCI card was given to a foreign national who was eligible to be a citizen of India on January 26, 1950, was a citizen of India on or at any time after January 26, 1950, or belonged to a territory that became part of India after August 15, 1947. Minor children of such individuals, except those who were a citizen of Pakistan or Bangladesh, were also eligible for OCI cards.