Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2024: History, Significance, and Themes

PWOnlyIAS January 09, 2024 12:20 6812 0

Pravasi Bharatiya Divas or NRI Day is celebrated to commemorate the return of Mahatma Gandhi from South Africa to India on 9 January 1915.

Context: Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD), also known as Non-Resident Indian (NRI) Day, is an annual event celebrated on January 9th of every year.

About Pravasi Bharatiya Divas or NRI Day

Inspiration: Pravasi Bharatiya Divas or NRI Day is celebrated to commemorate the return of Mahatma Gandhi from South Africa to India on 9 January 1915.
Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) provides a platform for the overseas Indian community to engage with the Indian government and people of the land of their ancestors for mutually beneficial activities.

It’s a day to acknowledge the achievements of Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) and Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) who have made significant contributions to their adopted countries while still cherishing their Indian heritage.
Appreciation of Contribution: It is a day to appreciate the vast and vibrant Indian diaspora, celebrate their achievements, and strengthen the bonds that connect them to their motherland.
- It’s a reminder that the Indian spirit continues to shine brightly on a global stage, and its contributions continue to shape a better future for all.
Organiser: Pravasi Bharatiya Divas is the flagship event of the Ministry of External Affairs. It is held in different cities, to showcase the diversity and progress of different regions of India.

It was first celebrated in 2003. It was an annual event earlier, but in 2015, the government revised its format to celebrate PBD once every two years.
- To date, 17 conventions have been held. The last Pravasi Bharatiya Divas was celebrated in the Indore of Madhya Pradesh in 2023.

2021	Contributing to Atmanirbhar Bharat.
2023	Diaspora: Reliable Partners for India’s Progress in Amrit Kaal.

Year	Venue	State
2003	New Delhi	Delhi
2004	New Delhi	Delhi
2005	Mumbai	Maharashtra
2006	Hyderabad	Andra Pradesh (Now in Telangana)
2007	New Delhi	Delhi
2008	New Delhi	Delhi
2009	Chennai	Tamil Nadu
2010	New Delhi	Delhi
2011	New Delhi	Delhi
2012	Jaipur	Rajasthan
2013	Kochi	Kerala
2014	New Delhi	Delhi
2015	Gandhinagar	Gujarat
2017	Bangalore	Karnataka
2019	Varanasi	Uttar Pradesh
2020	New Delhi	Delhi
2021	Virtual	Online
2023	New Delhi	Delhi

Indian Diaspora: It recognizes and honors the Indian diaspora spread across the globe.
- This day marks the contribution and achievements of overseas Indians in various fields, fostering a strong connection between the homeland and its diasporic communities.
Improving Networking: Such events are 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.
Unifying Factor: Pravasi Bharatiya Divas celebrates these contributions and fosters a sense of unity and pride among the Indian diaspora.
- It serves as a reminder that regardless of their geographical location, Indians remain connected to their cultural and historical roots.

Economy: They contribute significantly to India’s foreign exchange reserves through remittances and investments.
Science and Technology: Many NRIs are leading figures in cutting-edge fields, promoting knowledge sharing and collaboration.
Culture and Arts: They act as ambassadors of Indian culture and traditions, enriching the global landscape.
Social Development: Their philanthropic endeavours support various social causes and contribute to India’s development.

About Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award

It is the highest honour conferred on overseas Indians.
PBSA is conferred by the President of India as a part of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) Conventions.

Better understanding abroad of India;
Support to India’s causes and concerns in a tangible way;
Building closer links between India, the overseas Indian community and their country of residence;
Social and humanitarian causes in India or abroad;
Welfare of the local Indian community;
Philanthropic and charitable work;
Eminence in one’s field or outstanding work, which has enhanced India’s prestige in the country of residence; or
Eminence in skills which has enhanced India’s prestige in that country (for non-professional workers).

They are individuals who are not a resident of India based on the following conditions as defined in Section 6 of the Income Tax Act 1961.
An individual will be referred to as a Resident in India for the previous year if they satisfy the following conditions:
- If they were residing in India for 182 days or more in the previous year or
- If they were residing in India for 60 days or more in the previous year and 365 days or more for 4 years immediately preceding the said previous year.
- And if the individual does not satisfy the conditions listed above, they will be called a Non-Resident Indian for the previous year.
A person of Indian origin (PIO) who possesses a foreign passport, can apply for registration as Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) Cardholder subject to fulfillment of criteria laid down in Section 7A of the Citizenship Act, 1955.