Explainer: Why Pravasi Bharatiya Divas matters

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will formally launch the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas today. MEA S Jaishankar and Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan threw open the event on the opening day on Sunday.
Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) is an annual event celebrated in India to mark the contribution of the overseas Indian community to the development of India.
It is held on January 9th every year to commemorate the return of Mahatma Gandhi from South Africa in 1915, and his role in India's Independence movement
The event was first held in 2003, and has been held annually since then. It is organised by the Ministry of External Affairs of the Government of India, in partnership with the Confederation of Indian Industry and other organisations.

PBD provides a platform for the overseas Indian community to engage with the government and people of India, and to share their experiences and insights.
It also helps to strengthen ties between India and the global Indian diaspora, and to recognise the achievements and contributions of Indians living abroad.

The Indian diaspora includes the Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) and the Person of Indian Origin (PIO). The two communities have played a major role in promoting and facilitating investments by expatriate Indians in India.

PBD has contributed to the growth of India's economy by attracting foreign investment and promoting the export of Indian goods and services. It has also helped to create jobs and stimulate economic activity in India, by encouraging the return of skilled Indian workers and entrepreneurs. PBD has helped to promote the transfer of knowledge, technology, and expertise between India and the global Indian diaspora, which has contributed to the overall development of the Indian economy.

PBD is an opportunity for the government to showcase the progress and development of the country to the global Indian community. It is a way to showcase the achievements and potential of India as a nation, and to highlight the opportunities that are available for Indians living abroad to invest, work, and study in India.