Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention

January 9, 2023

Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the 17th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) Convention, an annual event that brings together members of the Indian diaspora from around the world. This year’s convention, held in Indore in partnership with the Madhya Pradesh government, features over 3,500 representatives from 70 countries and is being celebrated under the theme “Diaspora: Reliable Partners for India’s Progress in Amrit Kaal.”

What is Pravasi Bharatiya Divas?

Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) is the flagship event of the Government of India that provides an important platform for engagement and connection with overseas Indians. The convention, which is held annually on January 9th, also allows the diaspora to interact with one another. This year marks the 17th PBD Convention, which is being held in Indore from January 8th to 10th.

In addition to the main convention, several other events and initiatives took place as part of the PBD celebrations. A commemorative postal stamp titled “Surakshit Jaayen, Prashikshit Jaayen” (meaning “safe, trained, and skilled migration”) was released to highlight the importance of legal and skilled migration. The Prime Minister also inaugurated the first-ever digital PBD Exhibition, which focuses on the contribution of the diaspora to India’s freedom struggle.

Thematic Plenary Sessions

The 17th PBD Convention features five thematic plenary sessions, each focused on a different aspect of the diaspora’s role in India’s progress. The sessions and their chairpersons are as follows:

First Plenary on “Role of Diaspora Youth in Innovations and New Technologies,” chaired by Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports, Shri Anurag Singh Thakur
Second Plenary on “Role of Indian Diaspora in Promoting Indian Healthcare Eco-system in Amrit Kaal: Vision @2047,” chaired by Minister of Health & Family Welfare, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya and co-chaired by Minister of State for External Affairs, Dr. Rajkumar Ranjan Singh
Third Plenary on “Leveraging the Soft Power of India – Goodwill through Craft, Cuisine & Creativity,” chaired by Minister of State for External Affairs, Smt. Meenakshi Lekhi
Fourth Plenary on “Enabling Global Mobility of Indian Workforce – Role of Indian Diaspora,” chaired by Minister of Education, Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan
Fifth Plenary on “Harnessing the Potential of Diaspora Entrepreneurs Towards an Inclusive Approach to Nation Building,” chaired by Minister of Finance, Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman

Each plenary session will feature panel discussions with notable experts from the diaspora.

Significance of the 17th PBD Convention

The 17th PBD Convention holds special significance as it is the first to be held in person in four years and the first since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The previous PBD Convention, held in 2021, was held virtually due to the pandemic. The return to in-person events is seen as a hopeful sign of a return to normalcy and the importance of face-to-face engagement in building and strengthening ties between India and the diaspora.

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