Bhubaneswar: President Droupadi Murmu arrived in Bhubaneswar on Thursday evening to participate in the 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) convention.
Upon her arrival at the Biju Patnaik International Airport aboard a special Indian Air Force aircraft, she was warmly welcomed by Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, and other dignitaries.
The President proceeded to Raj Bhavan, where she is scheduled to stay overnight. On January 10, she will deliver the valedictory address at the three-day event and confer the prestigious Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards (PBSA) to members of the Indian diaspora for their exemplary contributions in various fields.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has already announced this year’s awardees, who “represent the excellence achieved by our diaspora in various domains.”
Among the honorees are Baroness Usha Kumari Prashar from the UK for her contributions to politics and Dr. Sharmila Ford from the US for her community service. Institutions established by Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) and Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) are also among the recipients.
The PBSA is the highest honor bestowed upon overseas Indians and is given in recognition of their outstanding achievements in India and abroad. The awardees for 2025 were recommended by a Jury-cum-Awards Committee and selected based on their exceptional work.
The awards will be presented by President Murmu as part of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention, a flagship event celebrated annually to acknowledge the contributions of NRIs and PIOs.
