Which of the following cities hosted the 19th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) Convention held in January 2025?

Correct option is A

Correct Answer: A

Explanation

• The Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) Convention held from January 8-10, 2025, was hosted in Bhubaneswar, Odisha.
• Important Correction: The event held in 2025 was actually the 18th edition of the PBD, not the 19th. The 19th edition is expected to be held in 2027. You may want to update the question text to reflect the correct edition number for accuracy in your test materials.
• The theme for the 18th PBD in 2025 was "Diaspora's contribution to a Viksit Bharat" (Developed India).
• The convention was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with the President of Trinidad and Tobago, Christine Carla Kangaloo, addressing the gathering virtually as the Chief Guest.

Information Booster

• PBD is celebrated biennially (every two years) to strengthen the engagement of the overseas Indian community with their homeland and to recognize their contributions to India's development.
• The date of January 9th is specifically chosen to commemorate the day Mahatma Gandhi (the greatest 'Pravasi') returned to India from South Africa in 1915 to lead the freedom struggle.
• A key highlight of the 2025 event was the flagging off of the Pravasi Bharatiya Express, a special dedicated tourist train for the Indian diaspora to travel to multiple destinations of religious and touristic importance across India.

Additional Knowledge

• Option B (Varanasi): Hosted the 15th PBD Convention in 2019, which had a special focus on giving the diaspora a chance to participate in the Kumbh Mela and Republic Day celebrations.
• Option C (Bengaluru): Hosted the 14th PBD Convention in 2017.
• Option D (Indore): Hosted the 17th PBD Convention in January 2023, with the theme "Diaspora: Reliable partners for India's progress in Amrit Kaal."