FAQs

The 15th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2019 Convention will be held in Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh), India from 21-23 January 2019.

The main theme of the PBD Convention 2019 is : "Role of Indian Diaspora in building New India"

This time participants are being offered option to take part in Kumbh Mela at Prayagraj on 24 January and witnessing the Republic Day Parade at New Delhi on 26 January. Varanasi as a place has some attraction points e.g. "Ganga Aarti" on the banks of River Ganges, Kashi Vishwanath Temple and Visit to Sarnath.

The Volvo buses are being arranged free of cost by MEA and Government of Uttar Pradesh for travel of delegates from Varanasi to Prayagraj. The arrangements for Kumbh Mela on 24th January are being made free of cost by Government of Uttar Pradesh. Special Pravasi trains are being arranged by Ministry of Railways free of cost to bring the delegates from Prayagraj to Delhi. The passes for Republic Day Parade are being arranged through Ministry of Defence and will be handed over to delegates along with the delegate kit in Varanasi.

The information-cum-facilitation-cum-help desks are being set at Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Varanasi international and domestic airports to receive and see-off delegates.

The venue of PBD 2019 Convention will be Deendayal Hastkala Sankul (Trade Facilitation Centre and Craft Museum) at Lalpur in Varanasi. The venue is about 30-45 minutes drive from the Airport and 6 Kms. from Taj Hotel in Varanasi.

For delegates participating in Youth PBD, recommended date of arrival in Varanasi to attend PBD 2019 Convention is 20th January 2019. For delegates who want to attend the PBD Convention, recommended date of arrival is 21st January 2019. You may also see Uttar Pradesh Tourism Department's local tour packages for PBD delegates, before you plan your travel dates.

It is advisable that the delegates attend all the events relating to PBD 2019 Convention on 22 and 23 January, 2019. Delegates are also welcome to attend Youth PBD programme on 21 January, 2019.

Registration for participation in PBD 2019 Convention is mandatory for all participants, including official delegates, invited guests, government officials, artists and performers and journalists. Registration will be only through an online process. For details of registration click here

PBD delegates/participants are required to pay the registration fee (except Government of India's special invitees). Individual registration fees are given below. Group registration fee can also be availed by PBD delegates, who wish to participate as members of an Indian Association, Community organization or Professional organization. The registration fees schedule  is as follows:

The registration fee will include meals (lunch and dinner at the Conference venue) during the Conference period. A Conference bag with programme, access to lunch and dinner venues, cultural programmes will also be provided to the participants on arrival. Delegates can pick up the Conference Bag from the special counters set up at the PBD Convention venue from 19 January 2019.

Registration Fees - Pravasi Bhartiya Divas 2019 ( Same as last time )

Sl	Category	PBD 2019
Individual Registration
(a)	Registration Fee Indian Nationals/Non-resident Indians (above 35 years)	INR 5000/- for one day INR 7,500/-for any two days during 21 to 23 January INR 10,000/- for all three days i.e. 21, 22, 23 January, 2019
(b)	Person of Indian Origin (above 35 years)	US$ 150 for one day US$ 200 for two days US$ 250 for three days
Group Registration
(a)	Members of an Indian Association, Indian Community Organization, Professional bodies of Indian Origin Persons, Members of Global Organization of Persons of Indian Origin (GOPIO) can register as a group and benefit from the special rates applicable for such group registrations. In order to register and be eligible to receive the discounted group rates, the number of registrations in a group would need to be at least 05 (five). The rates of discount applicable along with the numbers of registrations in the group are indicated:	Group Rebate(%) 5 to 50 25 51 to 100 35 more than 100 members 50
Special Registration Fees for Young PIOs, NRIs and Young Resident Indians
(a)	Indian Nationals/Non-resident Indians (between 18 to 35 years)	INR 3000/- for one day INR 7,500/- for any two days during 21 to 23 January, INR 10,000/- for all three days i.e. 21, 22, 23 January, 2019
(b)	Persons of Indian Origin (between 18-35 years)	US$ 100 for one day US$ 150 two days  US$ 200 for three days

While registering online using the registration form, fees may be paid online itself. In case the payment doesn’t process/fails, an option to complete the payment is available using Login credentials sent on registered Email ID.

The last date for registration in PBD 2019 Convention is extended till 31 December 2018.

It is advisable that delegates register online by 31 December, 2018. No registrations will be accepted after this date. Walk-ins and local registrations are not available.

Refund of 50% of registration fees(excluding various discounts that are offered in group registrations to the concerned delegate) would be allowed in the event of cancellation of participation by any delegate/participant in PBD 2019, The last date for receipt of refund request for PBD 2019 would be 31 December, 2018. Thereafter, no request for any refund would be accepted.Click here for Refund Procedure

If you are a Non-resident Indian national (holder of Indian passport), you don't require a visa to travel India. If you are a person of Indian Origin, your valid PIO or OCI card can provide visa free entry to India. If you do not have a PIO or OCI card, please apply at the nearest Indian Embassy or consulate for a visa. Foreign passport holders are advised to apply well in advance for Visa. You may please apply for "Conference Visa" to attend PBD 2019 Convention. Confirmed registration for the Conference will be required at the time of submission of visa application forms at the Indian Embassy/High Commission/Consulate. If you are a special Invitee of the Government of India, please present the invitation letter from the Ministry of External Affairs, along with the visa application to the Indian Embassy/Consulate to obtain gratis Visa. For more details regarding visa, please visit: https://indianvisaonline.gov.in

All registered participants/delegates will be provided a delegate card/badge which they would be required to wear all time at the convention venue. PBD registered delegates can collect the badges/cards at the special registered counters at PBD Convention venue set up for the purpose from 19th January 2019 onwards.

Entry to the PBD Convention will only be given to the person who has registered. A photo ID and verification proof need to be shown to obtain the delegate badge for entering the PBD convention. The delegate cannot transfer his badge to any other person.

A limited number of hotel accommodations are available in Varanasi. A list of hotels which have offered special rates for PBD Delegates/Participants is on the website. These bookings can be made online through the web portal link of the hotels. For Government of India invitees, accommodation would be arranged by the Organizers. In addition, tented accommodation in Varanasi will also be arranged at reasonable rates for those who register at their own expenses. The facility will be on payment basis. If the delegate prefer to stay in the tented accommodation, in that case the delegate has to opt for tented accommodation at the time of registration. The tented accommodation will have the facilities of hot water, climate warmer, sanitizer, mineral water bottles, Ironing state, tea kettle and Wi-Fi facility. The limited number of tented accommodation is available and the last day for registration for tented accommodation will be December 31, 2018.

2.5 kms.

Yes.

On days of the PBD Convention, designated shuttle bus service would be available at regular intervals at Central locations in the Varanasi City for the registered delegates/participants to reach the Convention venue.

Links are provided on the website for tourist attractions in Uttar Pradesh.

Tented accommodations are being arranged free of cost by MEA and Government of Uttar Pradesh.

Approx. 130 kms. & will take 3 hrs. by road.

Participants are expected to spend around 10-12 hours including bath and lunch.

Considering the foggy weather in January, train journey from Prayagraj to Delhi may take approximately 12-15 hours. Actual timings will be decided by Railways.

Yes, food will be provided in the train.

The delegates will have to make their own arrangement for stay etc. at New Delhi.The transportation arrangement will be made by MEA from Railway station to various places. The delegate will be picked up from these places to the Rajpath and after the program is over the delegates will be dropped back to these places.See the pick up/drop points.

PBD delegates based outside India are advised to bring medical and travel insurance for the period of their stay in India.

Weather in UP in January is usually cold with temperature ranging from 7 degree Celsius to 21 degree Celsius.

Ministry of External Affairs has negotiated with Air India & Jet Airways to offer discounted tickets for the benefit of PBD delegates. The delegates can know about the Offers and its Terms & Conditions by clicking on the logos of Air India/Jet Airways displayed at the bottom of the homepage of the website.

PBD Secretariat in New Delhi

PBD 2019 Secretariat
Ministry of External Affairs
Akbar Bhawan, New Delhi
Tel No: +91-11-24197965 [Call between 9:00 A.M. -5:30 P.M. IST]
E-mail: supportpbd@mea.gov.in