There are 30 million Indians living abroad who are "respected for the contributions they make - to India and to the societies and countries where they live in foreign lands and communities across the globe," said Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the 2017 Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) gathering in Bengaluru.
Priyank Kharge, the Indian state of Karnataka's Information Technology Minister, said the state has reached an agreement in principle
with Apple to assemble iPhones in Bangalore. The company has been communicating with the Indian government about "expanding" its local operations and, once an agreement is finalized, the company could begin making iPhones as early as April. India currently has 300 million smartphone users, a number that is expected to continue to grow.
The 2017 Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) honors the overseas Indian community with the Pravasi Bharatiya Samma awards, India's highest civilian honor for the country's diaspora. This year's awardees included Dr. Bharat Barai, an Indiana-based oncology doctor and the longest-serving member of a state medical licensing board in the US, and Nisha Desai Biswal, Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs.
The Embassy of India celebrated the country's 68th Republic Day on January 26. Ambassador Navtej Sarna paid floral tribute to the statue of Mahatma Gandhi and unfurled the Indian National flag amidst a crowd of guests and attendees.
Feeling the wrath of winter and in need of an escape? There are several places in India to use as the perfect excuse to take a break from the biting cold and plunging temperatures. Hill stations throughout the Indian countryside offer majestic views of sunsets, hills, lakes and more. From Mahabaleshwar and Mount Abu to Darjeeling, Coonoor and Coorg, visit these hill stations for a taste of warmer weather.
