Wednesday, January 8, 2025 The 18 th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) convention commenced on Wednesday in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, with over 5,000 delegates from India and abroad expected to participate in the three-day event. The gathering celebrates the contributions of the Indian diaspora and aims to strengthen ties between India and its global community. The event began with the inauguration of the Youth Pravasi Bharatiya Divas by External Affairs Minister S.
Jaishankar, Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Mansukh Mandviya, and Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the inaugural session on Thursday, while President Droupadi Murmu will preside over the valedictory session on Friday, during which she will confer the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards to honor distinguished members of the diaspora. Key Highlights and Speeches Addressing the diaspora, S.
Jaishankar urged young Indian-origin individuals to promote India as a global tourism destination, emphasizing the nation’s rich heritage and culture. Highlighting the government’s transformative initiatives since 2014, he mentioned campaigns like Swachh Bharat , Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao , and Ayushman Bharat , which aim to empower youth and improve quality of life. “India has demonstrated resilience and innovation, from pandemic recovery to advancements in space technology like Chandrayaan-3, Aditya L1, and the upcoming Gaganyaan mission,” Jaishankar stated.
He also praised India’s.
