Indian Diaspora
Indian diaspora consist of all persons, that migrated from India or says as a person from Indian origine
Indian Diaspora plays significant roll in Indias Geopolitical world.in following ways.
1.Political relations.
2.Cultural relations.
3.Defence relations.
4.Economic Relations.
This blog post is tailored specifically for UPSCUNIVERSE360, focusing on the analytical and factual depth required for UPSC aspirants (Prelims & Mains). It incorporates the 2026 status as an “intervening year” while providing the necessary historical and policy context.
Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2026: Celebrating the Global Indian Diaspora
Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD), celebrated on January 9, serves as a bridge between the Indian government and its vast overseas community. For UPSC aspirants, PBD is more than just a date; it is a vital topic covering International Relations (IR), Indian Diaspora policies, and Modern Indian History.
Why is January 9 Significant?
The date is special because it is when Mahatma Gandhi, the Greatest Pravasi came back to Mumbai from South Africa in 1915.
Mahatma Gandhi was away for 21 years fighting for the rights of people in another country.
When Mahatma Gandhi came back it changed the Indian National Movement in a way.
The idea of PBD started in 2003 when Atal Bihari Vajpayee was, in charge of the government.
This happened because the L.M. Singhvi Committee made some suggestions and the government decided to go with them.
Evolution of PBD: Annual to Biennial
The Ministry of External Affairs has changed the way they do things since 2015.
Biennial Conventions: Major flagship events held every two years (e.g., 2023 in Indore, 2025 in Bhubaneswar).
Intervening Years (2026): Smaller, theme-based regional conferences (RPBD) and webinars are held to maintain engagement.
Role of the Diaspora in ‘Viksit Bharat’
The celebrations in 2026 will show how important the Indian diaspora is in helping India achieve its goals for 2047.
The Indian diaspora is very big it has around 32 million people and it works like a bridge, between India and other countries the Indian diaspora is really a living bridge that connects people.
The Economic Pillar is really important for India. India is the number one country in the world for receiving money from countries. People send a lot of money to India than one hundred and twenty five billion dollars. This information is based on data from the World Bank, about the Economic Pillar. The Economic Pillar shows that India gets the remittances.
Diplomatic Influence: Soft power through cultural diplomacy and lobbying in host nations (e.g., US-India Civil Nuclear Deal, G20 support).
Knowledge Transfer: Initiatives like VAJRA (Visiting Advanced Joint Research) and GIAN facilitate the transfer of high-end skills from NRIs to Indian institutions.
- Key Government Initiatives for the Diaspora
For Mains (GS Paper II), remember these institutional mechanisms:
Pravasi Bharatiya Samman: The highest honor conferred on NRIs/PIOs for exceptional contributions.
Know India Programme (KIP): A 3-week orientation program for diaspora youth to reconnect with their roots.
So when we talk about OCIs and NRIs what is the difference between them?
NRIs are people who’re citizens of India but they live in other countries.
On the hand Overseas Citizens of India or OCIs are people who are citizens of other countries but they are originally from India except if they are from Pakistan or Bangladesh.
The good thing about being an OCI is that you get a visa that’s valid for your whole life.
So basically OCIs are citizens of Indian origin, with lifelong visas.
e-Migrate System: A digital platform ensuring safe and legal migration for Indian workers.
Challenges & The Way Forward
The diaspora is really important to us. There are still many problems, with it:
Protection of Blue-Collar Workers: Specifically in West Asia (Kafala system issues).
The evacuation crisis is a problem. We have seen this with things like Operation Ganga in Ukraine and Operation Kaveri in Sudan. These operations show that we really need to have backup plans in place for emergencies. The evacuation crisis and these operations, like Operation Ganga and Operation Kaveri are very important to think about when we’re making these plans.
Political Sensitivity: Issues like the “Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement” (DTAA) and voting rights for NRIs remain points of discussion.