Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the Indian diaspora for its significant contributions to India's independence and called on the community to assist in making the country a developed nation by 2047. PM Modi also launched the Pravasi Bharatiya Express, catering to people of Indian origin aged 45 to 65 years.

Speaking at the 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas convention in Bhubaneswar, he warmly welcomed the diaspora for visiting India during the festive month of January.

"This is a time for vibrant festivals and gatherings in India. In just a few days, the Mahakumbh will start in Prayagraj. The festivals of Lodi, Pongal and Magh Bihu are also coming up...Your presence in India at such a wonderful time is aiding the festive spirit",  Prime Minister Modi said.

Prime Minister Modi emphasized the significance of Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, noting that it was on this day in 1915 that Mahatma Gandhi returned to India after his extended stay abroad.

Along with Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Prime Minister Modi inaugurated the Pravasi Bharatiya Express, which has a maximum capacity of 156 passengers.

The train will take the Indian diaspora to several tourist, historic, and religious places in India for three weeks, starting today from the Safdarjung Railway Station in New Delhi.

Prime Minister Modi said that the world not only listens to India and its interests on the global stage but also its views on the Global South as a whole.

"Due to the strength of its heritage, India can tell the world that the future does not lie in war, but in Buddha (peace)",  he said.

Prime Minister Modi said that he considers the diaspora as the country's ambassadors to the countries they live in.

"We consider it our responsibility to help our diaspora during crises, no matter where they are", he added.

Prime Minister Modi also emphasized the point that his government "is trying to ensure that whenever Indian youths go abroad, they go with skills".

Earlier in the day, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, delivering the opening remarks at the event, thanked the diaspora for its role in nation-building and opened on measures taken by the Narendra Modi government to keep them safe whenever the situation demanded.

Likening the event to a family union, Jaishankar said that the diaspora becomes even more important for India in a globalized world, sustaining the two-way flow of people, ideas, trade, and investment.