External Affairs Minister highlighted the crucial role of India’s Diaspora ahead of 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) Convention. | Current Affairs | Vision IAS
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External Affairs Minister highlighted the crucial role of India’s Diaspora ahead of 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) Convention.

Posted 09 Jan 2025

2 min read

PBD is a biennale event, held on January 9th, commemorating the day in 1915 when Mahatma Gandhi returned to India from South Africa.

Indian Diaspora

  • About: It is a generic term for addressing people who have migrated from the territories that are currently within the borders of the Republic of India. 
  • Includes: Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) and Overseas Citizens of India (OCI).
    • PIO and OCI card holders were merged under one category — OCI — in 2015.
  • Status of Indian Diaspora: Approximately 35.42 million, which includes about 15.85 million non-resident Indians (NRIs) (May 2024)
    • The USA is home to the largest number totalling 5.4 million people. 

Major Contribution of Indian Diaspora

  • Economic: Foreign remittances from the Indian Diaspora are significant for socio-economic development especially in rural areas. 
  • Knowledge Transfer: Technical knowledge transfers and finances from diaspora boost India’s domestic entrepreneurial ecosystem. 
    • Help create trust with foreign investors attracting FDI.
  • Diplomacy: Their sizeable presence in South Asia, West Asia present an opportunity to nurture a growing, mutual relationship and positively shape India’s global image.
  • Promoting Indian Culture: Fostering culture exchanges, building India’s soft power, through popularising Indian music, cuisine, spirituality, etc. 

Some Initiatives taken for Enhancing Diaspora Engagements

  • Overseas Citizenship of India scheme: Introduced through Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2005.
  • Know India Programme (KIP): By Ministry of External Affairs to foster closer connection with Indian Diaspora youth. 
  • Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF): For assisting Overseas Indian nationals in times of distress and emergency. 
  • Tags :
  • OCI
  • NRI
  • Indian Diaspora
  • Pravasi Bhartiya Diwas
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