Three-day convention to bring together overseas Indians; online registrations open following joint launch by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and West Bengal Chief Minister
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar jointly launched the official website for the 19th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) Convention in New Delhi on November 11, paving the way for registrations for the major diaspora event scheduled to take place in Kolkata from January 7 to 9, 2027.
The three-day convention will be organised by the Ministry of External Affairs in partnership with the West Bengal government. It will begin with the Youth Pravasi Bharatiya Divas and bring together members of the Indian diaspora from different parts of the world.
The official portal, pbdindia.gov.in, will serve as a central information and registration platform. It will provide details of the convention’s programme, accommodation, travel arrangements, logistics and participation procedures.
The theme of the 19th edition is ‘Return to Roots: Reigniting the Diaspora Connect with Bharat’. It aims to strengthen the cultural, ancestral and emotional connections between overseas Indians and their country of origin, while encouraging greater diaspora participation in India’s development.
Adhikari said West Bengal was prepared to host the convention and invited overseas Indians to experience the state’s cultural heritage. He highlighted Bengal’s historical contribution to India’s connections with the global diaspora.
Jaishankar described overseas Indians as an important stakeholder in India’s future, emphasising their role in strengthening the country’s international engagement.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to inaugurate the convention, while President Droupadi Murmu will preside over the concluding session and confer the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards.
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A special Bharat Ko Janiye quiz has also been launched alongside the website
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Running until December 20, 2026, it will involve NRIs, Persons of Indian Origin and foreign nationals
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Winners will receive an opportunity to undertake a 10-day tour of India and attend the convention
Pravasi Bharatiya Divas commemorates Mahatma Gandhi’s return to India from South Africa on January 9, 1915.
