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The upcoming Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) 2017, to be held in Bengaluru will see several NRIs and PIOs to be honoured.  The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), under the tutelage of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has expanded the scope of the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards (PBSAs) to include NRIs and PIOs who achieve success abroad and also help India’s cause by making philanthropic investments and do charitable work in India, or contribute to India’s development.

According to the MEA spokesman Vikas Swarup the addition is intended to acknowledge their contributions and 30 such awards will be given on a bi-annual basis. The PBD ceremony will also see close to 3,000 NRI and PIO delegates from across the world.

The award features a bilingual Sanad (certificate) under the hand and seal of the President and also includes a citation, a gold medal, and miniature of a medallion in the form of a lapel pin.

Dr Antonio Costa, PM of the Republic of Portugal will be Chief Guest and will address the delegates. Michael Ashwin Satyandre Adhin, Vice President of the Republic of Suriname will be special guest. He will address the young overseas Indian delegates at the inaugural session of the Youth PBD, along with Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj and Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports Vijay Goel. The 14th edition of the PBSAs will be conferred by the President of India at the Convention on January 7-9, 2017 in Bengaluru in Karnataka. The theme of the event is ‘Redefining Engagement with Indian Diaspora’.

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