Table of Contents
Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2025: Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) or NRI Day is an annual celebration in India that is held on 9 January every year. The day is marked to recognize and honor the contributions made by Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) towards the development of India. The event was first celebrated in 2003 and has since been observed every year to commemorate the return of Mahatma Gandhi from South Africa on 9 January 1915. The occasion serves as a platform to connect with the Indian diaspora living across the world and engage them in the development of India.
There are 32 million Non-Resident Indians and PIOs residing outside India. To connect with all of them and to ensure their participation in Indian developmental activities, the Ministry of External Affairs introduced the Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas. Through this MEA is aiming to provide a platform for NRI to express their perceptions about India and thereby involve them in various developments. Indian Ministry of External Affairs introduced the Pravasi Bharathiya Divas or NRI day in 2000 and from their onward NRI day is celebrated on every alternative year. MEA has organized Fifteen PBDs have been in various Indian cities.
Pravasi Bharathiya Divas (NRI Day) 2025: Date
NRI or Pravasi Bharatiya Divas is observed every year on 9 January to mark the contribution of the overseas Indian community towards the development of India. Pravasi Bharatiya Divas is the platform to connect Indian Policymakers and NRI’s. PBD’s enables India to showcase its diplomatic standing with countries with a large Diaspora population. Started in 2000, this biennial event is sponsored by the Ministry of External Affairs and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), the Confederation of Indian Industries and the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region. MEA organizes the PBD Conferences every other year in any Indian city with NRIs and other stakeholders. Even the concept of Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) was launched during the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas convention at Hyderabad in 2006.
Why NRI Day on January 09? – History of Pravasi Bharathiya Divas
1: Who was the first woman President of India?
Indian celebrates the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas or NRI day on January 09 bilingual. But why MEA the organizer selected January 09? On January 09, 1915, is when Mahatma Gandhi returned to India from South Africa. To commemorate his return, Ministry of External Affairs has chosen January 09 to be celebrated as Pravasi Bhartiya Divas (Non-Resident Indian Day) in the year 2000.
The very first PBD convention was organized in 2003 at New Delhi. Considering the health emergency, MEA has decided to go virtual for this year’s events. The PBD convention as well as the preceding PBD Conferences will be streamed live across the External Affairs Ministry’s virtual platforms to enable every Indian and Diaspora member to engage and participate in the PBD Celebrations.
Download Entri to get the latest Government Job Updates
Free UPSKILLING Courses!
Take your first step toward mastering in-demand skills, acing interviews, and securing top-tier jobs with Entri's free upskilling courses.
Start Learning!Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2025 Theme
The Pravasi community is given importance to diasporic emotions. The day is dedicated to the raised voice of the NRIs and the emotional connection they hold towards the Nation they are rooted in. Even though the ways are different and the paths are variant, the NRIs always hold the spirit close to their homeland. This is taken into consideration on this special day.
The Pravasi Bharatiya Divas is an annual convention that was initiated by the Indian government in 2003 to connect with and engage the Indian diaspora. The event aims to focus on the current priorities and concerns of the Indian community residing outside India. The event serves as a platform to discuss and deliberate on issues like investment opportunities, cultural exchange, and the welfare of the Indian diaspora.
The theme of the event changes every year to reflect the needs and priorities of the Indian community living abroad.
Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2025, themed “Diaspora’s Contribution to a Viksit Bharat,” will be celebrated on January 9 in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, highlighting the vital role of the Indian diaspora in India’s development journey. This year’s event will showcase exhibitions on the diaspora’s contributions and India’s cultural heritage. It aims to strengthen connections with the global Indian community and celebrate their achievements.
The theme for the 2021 event was “Contributing to Atmanirbhar Bharat,” which centered around encouraging the Indian diaspora to contribute towards the vision of self-reliant India. The event aimed to foster a spirit of entrepreneurship and innovation among the Indian community abroad to boost the economy of the country.
Similarly, the theme for the 2023 event is “Diaspora: Reliable Partners for India’s Progress in Amrit Kaal.” The theme aims to highlight the role of the Indian diaspora in contributing to the progress of India amidst the current challenging times. The event will focus on strengthening the bond between India and its diaspora and creating opportunities for collaboration and growth.
Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2025 Significance
This day is specially dedicated to the upheaval of the motherland. The NRIs and the diaspora population has always been the reason for many upheavals in the nation. India remembers the collective sources of income and the profits that flow to the motherland due to the hard work and considerate patience the NRIs has paid. The Nation brings attention to the contributions as well as the innovations that can be done for the growth of the motherland through the celebration. This day hold its significance for the past precious contributions and the future decisions of the Pravasi world.
Grab the complete GK and Current Affairs study package here
Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2025 Quotes
- Every life is a journey, regardless of whether you stay in one place, live like a global nomad, or end up being something in between. – Ranjani Rao
- Even in darkness, there is light and that is spiritually illuminated India. – Shubhangi Gopal Kamble
- What is harder to do is breaking the ties to the people, the places, and the version of me that will linger. – Ranjani Rao
Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Venues
The Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas is celebrated in each state each year. Once in 2018, the venue for the Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas was in Singapore, which was the first time celebration outside the Nation.
| Year | Dates | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 9-11 January, 2003 | New Delhi |
| 2004 | 9-11 January, 2004 | New Delhi |
| 2005 | 7-9 January, 2005 | Mumbai |
| 2006 | 7-9 January, 2006 | Hyderabad |
| 2007 | 7-9 January, 2007 | New Delhi |
| 2008 | 7-9 January, 2008 | New Delhi |
| 2009 | 7-9 January, 2009 | Chennai |
| 2010 | 7-9 January, 2010 | New Delhi |
| 2011 | 7-9 January, 2011 | New Delhi |
| 2012 | 7-9 January, 2012 | Jaipur |
| 2013 | 7-9 January, 2013 | Kochi |
| 2014 | 7-9 January, 2014 | New Delhi |
| 2015 | 7-9 January, 2015 | Gandhinagar |
| 2017 | 7-9 January, 2017 | Bengaluru |
| 2019 | 21-23 January, 2019 | Varanasi |
| 2021 | 9 January, 2021 | Virtual |
| 2023 | 8-10 January,2023 | Indore |
| 2025 | 8-10 January,2025 | Bhubaneswar |
Get the latest GK mock test for free!
Sushma Swaraj Bhawan
Sushma Swaraj Bhawan which was previously known as the Pravasi Bharatiya Kendra is another concept you should know about. A Pannel on Indian Diaspora, led by Shri L. M. Singhvi, had suggested in January 2002 that the State must restore and maintain relations of overseas Indians to their area of birth. The panel suggested that a Pravasi Bharatiya Bhavan should be put up to appear as the focal moment for networking between India and its overseas community. Accepting this proposal along in January 2004, at the second Pravasi Bhartiya Divas (PBD) collected in Delhi, then Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee told that the Government will put up the Pravasi Bhartiya Kendra in New Delhi. The P.M. Dr Manmohan Singh at 9th PBD in January 2011 laid the foundation stone.
Free UPSKILLING Courses!
Take your first step toward mastering in-demand skills, acing interviews, and securing top-tier jobs with Entri's free upskilling courses.
Start Learning!Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas Logo
The Logo Depicts:
“the human chain depicts our brotherhood and strength across the world, ‘Ashoka Chakra’ along with the tricolour canopy showing the Worldwide contribution towards development on mankind and peaceful presence of ‘Bharatiya’ and ‘Pravasi Bharatiya’ all around the world”
Download Entri! Get the latest Government Job Updates
Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2025 Quiz
- Who started Pravasi Bharatiya Divas?
- Who is the first individual of non-Indian heritage to address the PBD celebrations?
- What is the theme for the 2021 Pravasi Bharatiya Divas?
- Which city hosted the very first Pravasi Bharathiya Diwas (PBD) Conference?
- When did the Overseas Citizen of India card launch?
- Which city hosted the very first Regional Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Conferences (RPBD)?
- What does the Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas 2022 logo depict?
