Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas, celebrated on January 9, marks the contribution of the overseas Indian community to the development of India.
Also known as Non-Resident Indian Day (NRI Day), Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas commemorates the return of Mahatma Gandhi from South Africa to India in 1915.
Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas was first celebrated in 2003. Later, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs revised the format in 2015 to celebrate the event once every two years and hold theme-based conferences during the intervening period.
To date, 17 conventions have been held across the world on Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas. The last Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas was celebrated in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, in 2023.
The theme of Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas reflects the priorities and concerns of the Indian diaspora. In 2023, the theme for NRI Day was "Diaspora: Reliable Partners For India's Progress In Amrit Kal."
Initiated by the Government of India in 2003, the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards recognise the achievements of NRIs and PIOs in various fields.
Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas engages the overseas Indian community residing in various parts of the world to share their experiences in various fields. It recognises NRIs and their efforts to preserve the Indian heritage and strengthen global ties.