Prime Minister to Inaugurate 19th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas

The 19th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention will be held in Kolkata, West Bengal, from January 7 to 9, 2027. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to inaugurate the three-day event, organised by the Ministry of External Affairs in partnership with the Government of West Bengal.

Convention programme

President Droupadi Murmu will preside over the valedictory session and confer the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards. The convention will begin with the Youth Pravasi Bharatiya Divas segment. Its theme has been stated in two forms: “Return to Roots: Reigniting the Diaspora Connect with Bharat” and “From Roots to Return: Reigniting Diaspora Connect with Bharat”.

Website and quiz launched

On November 11, 2026, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari jointly launched the convention’s official website in New Delhi. They also launched a special Bharat Ko Janiye Quiz, open until December 20, 2026. Winners will be invited for an immersive tour of India and to participate in the convention.

Important Facts for Exams

• Biennial format: The convention is held every other year in a selected Indian city, with a forum on issues concerning the Indian diaspora.
• Samman status: The Pravasi Bharatiya Samman is the President of India’s highest honour for overseas Indians, with a maximum of 30 awards every two years.
• Commemorative date: Pravasi Bharatiya Divas is observed on 9 January because Mahatma Gandhi returned to India from South Africa on that date in 1915.
• Award selection process: Nominations for the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman are assessed by a jury-cum-awards committee chaired by the Vice-President before recommendations reach the President.