Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD)

Prawasi Bhartiya Diwas is celebrated annually on January 9th to mark the contribution of the Overseas Indian community to the development of India.

Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD): Key Facts

• Historical Background: The date January 9 was chosen to commemorate the return of Mahatma Gandhi from South Africa to India in 1915. He is considered the greatest ‘Pravasi’ who led India’s freedom struggle.
• Inception: Established in 2003 following the recommendations of the High-Level Committee on Indian Diaspora (headed by L.M. Singhvi).
• Format: It was an annual event until 2015. Since 2015, it has been celebrated as a biennial event (once every two years).
• Organisers: Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in partnership with a State Government and industry bodies like CII.

Primary Objectives

• Acknowledge the economic, cultural, social, scientific and political contributions of NRIs & OCIs.
• Provide a platform for dialogue between diaspora and Indian policymakers.
• Support diaspora participation in national priorities (trade, technology, culture, investments).
• Promote cultural linkages and a deeper understanding of India abroad.

Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award

• Nature of Award: It is the highest honour conferred on a Non-Resident Indian (NRI), Person of Indian Origin (PIO), or an organisation established by NRIs/PIOs.
• Conferring Authority: Presented by the President of India during the PBD convention.
• Objective: To recognise significant contributions in various fields like community service, science, bettering India’s image abroad, and welfare of local Indian communities.

About Indian Diaspora

• Economic Powerhouse: India is the largest recipient of remittances globally (crossing $100 billion mark), which aids in managing the Current Account Deficit.
• Soft Power: The diaspora acts as “cultural ambassadors,” spreading Indian values (Yoga, Ayurveda, Cuisine) and influencing global opinion (e.g., Howdy Modi event).
• Strategic Assets: They play an important role in Track II diplomacy and lobbying for favourable policies in countries like the USA, UK, and Canada (e.g., India-US Civil Nuclear Deal).

Other Initiatives for the Indian Diaspora by Government

• Know India Programme (KIP): It connects diaspora youth (18-30 years) with their Indian roots through a three-week orientation, giving preference to PIOs from Girmitiya countries.
• Pravasi Teertha Darshan Yojana: It offers government-sponsored religious tours for elderly PIOs (45-65 years) to strengthen their spiritual bonds with the motherland.
• Scholarship Programme for Diaspora Children (SPDC): It provides financial assistance to children of NRIs/PIOs (from 66 countries) for pursuing undergraduate courses in Indian Central Universities and NITs.
• VAJRA (Visiting Advanced Joint Research): It is a faculty scheme that allows overseas scientists and academicians to work as adjunct faculty in Indian institutions, converting “brain drain” into “brain gain”.
• Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF): It is a contingency fund maintained at Indian Missions to assist in distress situations, such as legal aid, emergency medical care, and transportation of mortal remains.
• Pravasi Bharatiya Bima Yojana (PBBY): It is a mandatory insurance scheme for workers migrating to Emigration Check Required (ECR) countries, providing an insurance cover of ₹10 Lakh for accidental death or permanent disability.
• MADAD Portal: it serves as an online platform for consular grievances, allowing diaspora members to log and track complaints regarding marital disputes, salary dues, or labour violations.
• e-Migrate System: It regulates overseas employment to protect vulnerable blue-collar workers from exploitation by illegally linking employers, agents, and the Protector of Emigrants (PoE).

Difference between NRI and OCI