Every two years, on January 9, India celebrates Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, also known as NRI Day, to honour the contribution of the Indian Community to the growth and prosperity of our country. The day, also known as NRI Day, celebrates Mahatma Gandhi’s departure from South Africa and arrival in India in 1915. On this festive day, the Central Government of India presents the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards to foreign Indians who have made important contributions to the growth of India.

It is possible to trace the origins of Pravasi Bharatiya Divas back to 2000, when the Public Authority of India decided to designate January 9 as a day of celebration for the NRI population. Mahatma Gandhi’s journey back to India from South Africa on January 9, 1915, inspired the concept of NRI Day.

This day was declared in 2000, and for the first time, it was commemorated in 2003. Here are some further details on Pravasi Bharatiya Divas’s historical context: The ninth day of January is Pravasi Bhartiya Divas. This was mostly observed as NRI Day in India. The Pravasi Bhartiya Divas and NRI Day are the same things.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs, the theme for Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2023 is “Diaspora: Reliable Partners for India’s Progress in Amrit Kaal.” This subject emphasises the importance of the Indian community in the advancement of India. Every year, the Indian government chooses a new theme for NRI Day.

Events on NRI Day and the forum for the Indian diaspora revolve around the theme suggested by the Indian government. A couple of the themes from the prior year are included here.

2014: “Engaging Diaspora: Connecting Across Generations”

2015: “Apna Bharat, Apna Gaurav”

2017: “Redefining engagement with the Indian diaspora”

2019: “Role of the Indian Diaspora in Building a New India”

2021: “Contributing to Aatmanirbhar Bharat”

The 16th PBD was organised in 2021 in a virtual format.

It’s Significance

Non-Resident Indian Day (NRI Day) is observed on January 9 to recognise the overseas Indian community’s contribution to India’s development. The greatest Pravasi, Mahatma Gandhi, travelled from South Africa to India in 1915. He profoundly influenced Indian culture and significantly aided India’s quest for freedom. The main goal of the celebration is to recognise the collaboration between Indian politicians and Indian non-residents.

This event is sponsored by the Ministry of Development of the North Eastern Region, the Confederation of Indian Industries, the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), and the Ministry of External Affairs. Additionally, Pravasi Bharatiya Divas represent the efforts made by the Indian community residing abroad to preserve ties to their culture.

Important points to remember for Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2023

The Australian Member of Parliament, H.E. Ms Zaneta Mascarenhas, attended Pravasi Bhartiya Diwas in 2023. NRI Day is quite famous and popular in India. The 17th Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas Convention took place in 2023. In Indore, Madhya Pradesh, Pravasi Bhartiya Divas 2023 is being observed this year. Additionally, Indore is India’s cleanest city.

• The 17th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention has taken place in Indore from January 8–10, 2023, in partnership with the Madhya Pradesh Government.
• More than 3,500 diaspora participants from almost 70 different countries have attended the PBD Convention.
• The Youth Pravasi Bharatiya Divas was officially opened by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. The Guest of Honor for the Youth Pravasi Bharatiya Divas was Australian lawmaker H.E. Ms Zaneta Mascarenhas.
• The PBD Convention was officially opened by Shri Narendra Modi, Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, after remarks from the Chief Guest, H.E. Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali, President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, and the Special Guest of Honor, H.E. Mr Chandrikapersad Santokhi, Hon’ble President of the Republic of Suriname.
• The Honourable Prime Minister launched the first-ever computerised PBD presentation, “Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav: Commitment of Diaspora in Indian Opportunity Battle,” which highlighted the dedication of our political dissidents abroad to India’s freedom.

Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award

The Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs of the Government of India established the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman (Overseas Indian Honor or Award) in conjunction with the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (Non-Resident Indian Day). It is the highest honour given to non-resident Indians, overseas citizens of India, or organisations or institutions that were founded and are currently run by non-resident Indians or people of Indian origin. The honour is given by the Indian President. In 2016, the Indian government decided to only award the prize once every two years, boosting the number of winners each year to 30.

There were five plenary sessions that were themed:

• Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Anurag Thakur presided over the opening plenary, which focused on the role of diaspora youth in innovations and new technologies.
• The second plenary, “Role of Indian Diaspora in Promoting Indian Healthcare Eco-system in Amrit Kaal: Vision @ 2047,” was co-chaired by Dr Rajkumar Ranjan Singh, Minister of State for External Affairs, and Dr Mansukh Mandaviya, Minister of Health and Family Welfare.
• Meenakshi Lekhi, Minister of State for External Affairs, presided over the third plenary on “Leveraging the Soft Power of India: Goodwill via Craft, Gastronomy, and Creativity.”
• Fourth Plenary, moderated by Dharmendra Pradhan, Minister of Education, Skill Development, and Entrepreneurship, on “Enabling Global Mobility of the Indian Workforce: The Role of the Indian Diaspora.”
• Fifth Plenary, moderated by Nirmala Sitharaman, Minister of Finance, on “Harnessing the Potential of Diaspora Entrepreneurs Toward an Inclusive Approach to Nation Building.”