Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) - 2025

1. Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) is celebrated every two years on January 9 to recognize the important contributions of Indians living abroad (the Indian diaspora) to their home country.
2. Started in 2003 by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, PBD was created to appreciate the role of overseas Indians in India's growth.
3. It is organized by the Ministry of External Affairs and has grown into an important event for connecting India with its global community.
4. Since 2015, the event has been held every two years with different themes for each event to discuss specific topics related to the diaspora.
5. President Droupadi Murmu is on a 2-day visit to Meghalaya and Odisha from January 9 to January 10.
6. “On January 10 the President will grace the valedictory session of the 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas convention and present the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards at Bhubaneswar, Odisha”, adds the President’s Secretariat.

Historical Significance

1. January 9 was chosen for this celebration as it marks the day in 1915 when Mahatma Gandhi returned to India from South Africa to lead the Indian freedom struggle.
2. This day honors the deep historical connection between India and its overseas citizens.

Objectives & Impact of PBD

1. Recognize the Diaspora’s Contributions: Appreciate the role of Indians abroad in India’s development.
2. Promote India Globally: Help the world understand India better.
3. Support India’s Interests: Encourage the diaspora to contribute to India’s causes and the well-being of Indian communities worldwide.
4. Create a Platform for Connection: Provide opportunities for the diaspora to engage with India’s government and people.

18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) - 2025

1. Dates: January 8-10, 2025 in Bhubaneswar, Odisha.
2. Theme: "Diaspora's Contribution to a Viksit Bharat" (Developed India).

Key Events & Features of the 18th PBD Convention

1. Day 1 - 8 January 2025: Youth Pravasi Bharatiya Divas

   1. Inauguration by:
      • External Affairs Minister
      • Minister for Youth Affairs & Sports
      • Chief Minister of Odisha
   2. Focus: Engaging Indian youth abroad, helping them reconnect with their cultural roots.

2. Day 2 - 9 January 2025: Main Convention Inauguration

   1. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will open the event.
   2. Pravasi Bharatiya Express: A special tourist train for the diaspora, traveling to various important cultural and religious sites in India.
   3. Exhibitions:
      • Vishwaroop Ram: Showcasing the story of Ramayana through art.
      • Diaspora’s Contribution to Technology: Highlighting the Indian diaspora’s role in global technology.
      • Mandvi to Muscat: Showing the history of Indians who moved from Mandvi (Gujarat) to Muscat (Oman).
      • Heritage of Odisha: Displaying the rich culture and traditions of Odisha.

3. Day 3 - 10 January 2025: Valedictory Session

   1. Closing speech by President Droupadi Murmu.
   2. Presentation of the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards (PBSA) to those who have made outstanding contributions.

Key Plenary Sessions (Days 2 & 3)

1. Diaspora Youth Leadership: Focus on empowering youth and leadership in today’s connected world.
2. Migrant Skills: Celebrating how the diaspora has helped build bridges between cultures.
3. Sustainable Development: Highlighting the contributions of the diaspora to environmentally-friendly projects.
4. Women’s Leadership: Recognizing the role of diaspora women in leadership and development.
5. Cultural Connections: Sharing stories of belonging and preserving cultural ties.

Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards (PBSA)

1. The Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award is a prestigious award given to Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) and Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) for their excellent work in various fields such as:
   1. Education, Science & Innovation, Trade & Business
   2. Arts & Culture, Social Work, Public Service
   3. Philanthropy
2. These awards are presented by the President of India during the closing ceremony of the event.

Previous PBD Conventions 17th PBD (2023): Held in Indore, Madhya Pradesh. Theme: “Diaspora: Reliable Partners for India’s Progress in Amrit Kaal”. Leaders from countries like Guyana and Suriname attended, highlighting the global importance of the Indian diaspora.

A quiz to mark the 18th edition of Pravasi Bharatiya Divas being held in Bhubaneswar

Q. The Pravasi Bharatiya Divas began on Tuesday in Odisha. The previous edition was held in which State?

1. Madhya Pradesh
2. Rajasthan
3. Bihar
4. Uttar Pradesh

ANS. 1 Madhya Pradesh, The previous edition was held in Indore in January 2023, in partnership with the Madhya Pradesh government.

Q. What major change was initiated to the PBD in 2015?

• In 2015, Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) began to be held every two years, as opposed to annually, with a different theme for each event to discuss specific topics related to the diaspora.

Q.  Why was January 9 chosen as Pravasi Bharatiya Divas and in which year was the inaugural event held?

• January 9 was chosen because it marks the day in 1915 when Mahatma Gandhi returned to India from South Africa to lead the Indian freedom struggle. The inaugural event of Pravasi Bharatiya Divas was held in 2003.

Q. What is the theme for this year’s Pravasi Bharatiya Divas?

• The theme for the 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) 2025 is "Diaspora's Contribution to a Viksit Bharat" (Developed India).

Q. The Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) is sponsored and organised by the Ministry of External Affairs. Which two leading organisations also collaborate with the MEA in celebrating the event?

• The two leading organizations that collaborate with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in organizing PBD are the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports and the Government of Odisha.

Q. What is the name of the award given to honor exceptional overseas Indians?

• The award given to honor exceptional overseas Indians is called the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award (PBSA).

 

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