Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) Convention is the flagship event of India’s Ministry of External Affairs. It provides an important platform to engage and connect with Indians living overseas. The MEA in a statement said that keeping the interests and sentiments of the India diaspora community in mind, the 16th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention will be organized on 9th January 2021, albeit virtually. The PBD Conferences recently were also held virtually in the run up to the Convention.
The theme of 16th PBD Convention 2021 is “Contributing to Aatmanirbhar Bharat“.
PBD Convention will have three segments. The PBD Convention will be inaugurated by Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi and will feature a keynote address by the Chief Guest Chandrikapersad Santokhi, President of the Republic of Suriname.
The winners of the online Bharat ko Janiye Quiz for the youth will also be announced.
The Inaugural session will be followed by the two Plenary sessions. The first Plenary on Role of Diaspora in Aatmanirbhar Bharat, will feature addresses by External Affairs Minister and Commerce and Industry Minister while the second Plenary on Facing Post Covid Challenges – Scenario in Health, Economy, Social and International Relations, will be addressed by Minister of Health and Minister of State for External Affairs. Both Plenaries will feature panel discussions inviting eminent diaspora experts.
The finale would be the Valedictory Session where President of India Ramnath Kovind will deliver his Valedictory address to mark the occasion of Pravasi Bharatiya Divas. The names of the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awardees for 2020-21 will also be announced. Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards are conferred to select Indian diaspora members to recognize their achievements and honour their contributions to various fields, both in India and abroad.
The Youth PBD was celebrated virtually on the theme “Bringing together Young Achievers from India and Indian Diaspora” on 8 January 2021. It was anchored by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. The Special Guest for the event was Priyanca Radhakrishnan, Minister for Community & Voluntary Sector of New Zealand.
Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan spoke at the event and highlighted the governments measures to skill the country’s youth. “India is going to be the global source of skilled manpower by 2022, and our Skill India programme is aimed towards making India ready to become the Skill capital of the world by then”, he said. The governments aim is to not just export “man-power” to the world, but to export “skills”, he said.
“Our programme on Pravasi Kaushal Vikas Yojana aims to enhance the skills of Indian youth who seek overseas employment which will not only lead to better image of India in the developed world but will also lead to better salaries and better remittances, thus raising India’s GDP further”, he said.
Sourabh Shetty 
Aayush Pal 
Parag Gilada