With over 6,000 non-resident Indians (NRIs) taking part in the vibrant celebration, the 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) kicked off on Wednesday in Odisha. The event will end on January 10.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to inaugurate the event on Thursday, January 9. Besides, the prime minister will also launch the Pravasi Bharatiya Express, a special tourist train designed for the Indian diaspora.

People from different walks of life including business, academics, economics and more across 75 countries are participating in the convention organised in Odisha's Bhubaneswar.

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Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) is known as a flagship event conducted by the Central government to recognise the contribution of the huge overseas Indian diaspora to the development of India.

Every year, it is celebrated on January 9 every year since 2003 as on the same day in 1915, Mahatma Gandhi, who was a non-resident at the time, returned to India from South Africa.

This year, the event includes a wide range of activities with particular emphasis on the growing importance of India's global engagement and the key role of its diaspora in shaping the nation's future. The theme of the 2025 PBD Convention is 'Diaspora's Contribution to a Viksit Bharat'.

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The primary objective of PBD is to serve as a bridging factor between the Government of India and the vibrant overseas Indian diaspora. The PBD convention allows the overseas Indians from different countries to engage with each other regarding key issues concerning the Indian Diaspora.

The event serves as a platform to acknowledge and celebrate the contributions of the Indian diaspora in various fields, including economics, culture, and politics, to both India and their host countries.

The event also brings forward several opportunities available for overseas Indians in India, including investment prospects, business partnerships, and collaborative ventures, encouraging them to contribute to India's development and many more.

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Mighty Australia are placed third with seven points from two wins and a loss. Argentina have also qualified for the quarterfinals with four points from three games, which includes a win, a draw and a loss.

From the United States and Europe to Australia and Asian nations, the Indians continue to emerge as one of the strongest sources of remittances in the world.

As per a report by NDTV,currently the Indian Diaspora across nations includes at 35.4 million members , including 19.5 million persons of Indian origin and 15.8 million non-resident Indians.

Only United States comprises 5.1 million people, including 2.8 million first-generation immigrantsgame ape, making up just 1.5 per cent of the US population. Today the Indian diaspora is the second largest immigrant group in the United States after the Mexicans and ahead of the Chinese and Filipino populations. United Arab Emirates (UAE) still tops the list of the countries with the largest Indian diaspora.