• The 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention will be organised from January 8 to 10, 2025 in Bhubaneswar in collaboration with the Odisha government.

• The official website of the 18th PBD Convention was jointly launched by Minister of External Affairs S. Jaishankar and Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi.

• The theme of the PBD Convention for 2025 is ‘Diaspora’s contribution to a Viksit Bharat’.

• The Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) Convention provides an important platform to engage and connect with the Indian diaspora.

• President Droupadi Murmu will confer the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards and preside over the valedictory session.

Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD)

• Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) is celebrated on January 9 to recognise the contribution of the overseas Indian community towards the growth and development of India. 

• January 9 was chosen for PBD as it was on this day in 1915 that Mahatma Gandhi returned to India from South Africa and led its freedom struggle.

• Theme-based PBD Conventions are held once every two years with participation from overseas diaspora experts, policy makers and stakeholders. 

Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention

• The Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) Convention is a flagship event of the government of India and provides an important platform to engage and connect with the overseas Indian diaspora. 

• The first PBD Convention was organised on January 2, 2003 to mark the contribution of the overseas Indian community to the development of India.

• These conventions provide a platform to the overseas Indian community to engage with the government and people of the land of their ancestors for mutually beneficial activities. These conventions are also very 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.

• Since 2015, under a revised format, PBD Convention has been organised once every 2 years.

• During the convention, selected overseas Indians are honoured with prestigious Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards, to recognise their contribution in various fields both in India and abroad.

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