Pravasi Bharatiya Divas

• Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) is observed and celebrated on 9 January across the country.
• It is a day to acknowledge and mark the contribution of the Indian community staying abroad in the development of the country.
• The Pravasi Bharatiya Divas is celebrated grandly to strengthen the engagement of the Government of India with the overseas Indian community.

Why is Pravasi Bharatiya Divas celebrated on 9 January?

• In the year 1915, Mahatma Gandhi returned to India from South Africa on this day.
• Following his return, the father of the nation began and headed India's freedom struggle and changed the lives of millions of Indians forever.
• That is why, 9 January was picked to celebrate the occasion.

Significance

• Since 2003, the PBD Convention has been organising this Divas from 7 to 9 January every year in the national capital.
• The PBD holds the event with a vast overseas diaspora to let them share their knowledge, skills and expertise on a common platform.
• Later on, in 2015, the format was revised to mark and observe the PBD convention once in every two years.
• The organisers further decided to hold theme-based conferences with participation from policymakers, stakeholders and overseas diaspora experts.
• Through these conventions, the overseas Indian community easily engages with the government and its people for mutually beneficial activities.
• Additionally, this becomes a means of networking where Indians staying abroad share their experiences in various fields.