Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award is the highest honour conferred by the President of India as a part of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) Conventions on a Non Resident Indian (NRI), Person of Indian Origin (PIOs) or organization or institution established
and run by NRIs or PIOs, who have made significant contribution in one of the following fields :
- Better understanding abroad of India;
- Support to India’s causes and concerns in a tangible way;
- Building closer links between India, the overseas Indian community and their country of residence;
- Social and humanitarian causes in India or abroad;
- Welfare of the local Indian community;
- Philanthropic and charitable work;
- Eminence in one’s field or outstanding work, which has enhanced India’s prestige in the country of residence; or
- Eminence in skills which has enhanced India’s prestige in that country (for non-professional workers).
Every year since 2003 till 2015, 15 PBSAs were awarded during the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) Convention. Since 2015, PBD Convention is being held Bi-annually and the number of PBSAs have been increased to 30.
A committee of officers constituted by MEA examine the nominations received with a view to ensure their completeness & draw up a short citation on each nominee to facilitate the work of the Jury-cum-Awards-Committee. The composition of Jury-cum-Awards-Committee
is as follows:-
(a) Vice President of India - Chairman
(b) Minister of External Affairs - Vice-Chairman
(c) Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister - Member
(d) Home Secretary - Member
(e) Foreign Secretary - Member
(f) Five members to be nominated by the Prime Minister
(g) Secretary dealing with Overseas Indian Affairs in MEA - Member Secretary
On 23rd January 2019, 30 awards have been conferred by Hon'ble President of India on the Indian Diaspora from diverse fields, including Administration, Arts and Academics, Business and Entrepreneurship, Community and Social Service, Engineering, Medical Science,
etc.
Varanasi
January 23, 2019