Pravasi Bharatiya Divas

Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (Non-resident Indian Day)

To connect India to its vast overseas diaspora and bring their knowledge, expertise and skills on a common platform, the PBD Convention - the flagship event of Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs (MOIA), Government of India is organized from 7th-9th January every year since 2003.

Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) is celebrated on 9th January every year to mark the contribution of Overseas Indian community in the development of India. January 9 was chosen as the day to celebrate this occasion since it was on this day in 1915 that Mahatma Gandhi, the greatest Pravasi, returned to India from South Africa, led India's freedom struggle and changed the lives of Indians forever.

PBD conventions are being held every year since 2003. These conventions provide a platform to the overseas Indian community to engage with the government and people of the land of their ancestors for mutually beneficial activities. These conventions are also very useful in networking among the overseas Indian community residing in various parts of the world and enable them to share their experiences in various fields.

During the event, individuals of exceptional merit are honoured with the prestigious Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award to appreciate their role in India's growth. The event also provides a forum for discussing key issues concerning the Indian Diaspora.

The annual Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Program since 2003 has been organized in the following cities:

1. 2003 1st Pravasi Bharatiya Divas New Delhi
2. 2004 2nd Pravasi Bharatiya Divas New Delhi
3. 2005 3rd Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Mumbai
4. 2006 4th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Hyderabad
5. 2007 5th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas New Delhi
6. 2008 6th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas New Delhi
7. 2009 7th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Chennai
8. 2010 8th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas New Delhi
9. 2011 9th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas New Delhi
10. 2012 10th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Rajsthan (Jaipur)
11. 2013 11th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Kerala (Kochi)
12. 2014 12th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas New Delhi
13. 2015 13th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Gujarat (Gandhinagar)
14. 2016 14th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas New Delhi
15. 2016 14th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Karnataka (Bangalore)