Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award (PBSA) is one of the most prestigious civilian awards for the Non-Residential Indians (NRIs). The award was constituted by the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs, in the year 2004 with a view to honour the exceptionally successful and meritorious Indians, residing in the foreign countries. The awardees receive the award mainly because of their extraordinary contribution to their respective field/profession and they receive it on the occasion of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Conventions which is conducted yearly since 2003. The President of India presents the award to the recipients. However, the Vice-President or the Prime Minister of India can also present the award. Apart from the non-residential Indians, a person of Indian origin or an organisation or institution established and run by the Non-Resident Indians or Persons of Indian Origin, can also get the award.

Eligibility of Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award
There are certain criteria for a person or an organisation to be eligible for receiving the award that include,

* Making significant contribution towards better understanding abroad of India and support to India`s causes and concerns in a tangible way;
* Making significant contribution for the welfare of Diaspora;
* Notable contribution in philanthropic and charitable work and for social and humanitarian causes in India and abroad;
* Significant contribution in building closer links between India and its Diaspora in the economic, cultural and scientific fields;
* Eminence in one`s field for outstanding work which has enhanced India`s prestige in the country of residence; and
* Eminence in one`s skills which has enhanced India`s prestige in that country (for non-professional workers).

Regulations of Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award
According to the rules and regulations set up for the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award, the recipients of the award can continue to be considered for Padma Awards, namely Padma Shri, Padma Vibhushan and Padma Bhushan; the Padma Awardees, on the other hand, shall also be eligible for Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award. The Government of India presents the award to a maximum of 15 people, every year. The awardees receive a bilingual Sanad (certificate) with the seal of the President of India, a citation and a gold medallion, as part of the award. The award is given at a formal ceremony organised by the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs, at the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas on 9th January, every year.

Members of Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award Committee
Different authorities in India and abroad make nominations of deserving persons, organisations or institutions, for the award. The authorities include the Heads of Indian Diplomatic Missions abroad, the Chairman of the Department Related Parliamentary Standing Committee of the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs, the Prominent Overseas associations with nation-wide character as may be decided by the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs, and also the Awardees of Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award. After getting the name of the nominees, a Committee of officers, constituted by the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs shortlist the recommendations, with a view to facilitate the work of the Jury-cum-Awards Committee.

The Jury-cum-Awards Committee consists the members like the Vice President of India, as the Chairman; the Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs, as the Vice-Chairman; and the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, the Home Secretary, and the Foreign Secretary, as the members. Apart from them, another five members are nominated by the Prime Minister and the Secretary, Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs, acts as the Member-Secretary of the Jury-cum-Awards Committee.

Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award Distribution process
After getting the short listed nominees for the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award, the Jury-cum-Awards Committee submits the recommendation to the Prime Minister and President for approval. The Prime Minister and President of India give the final approval on the names of the award winners and the names are published in the Gazette of India prior to the day of presentation of the awards. The award is usually not given posthumously, except in some rare cases where the person had died within a year preceding the announcement of the awards. The president has the power of canceling the award, at any time.

Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awardees
Few of the notable and distinguished personalities who have been honoured with the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award in the last few years are mentioned below-

Awardees in 2007
* Gopal Raju
* Lord Diljit Rana
* Dave Sukhdip Singh Hayer
* Dr. Madhavan Anirudhan
* Billy Nair
* Nirmal K. Sinha
* Tan Sri Dato K.R. Somasundram
* Sir Moti Tikaram
* Dr. Abdool Magid Karim Vakil

Awardees in 2008
* Dr. Ravi Pillai
* Dr. Navinchandra Ramgoolam
* P. S. Mani
* Neville Joseph Roach
* Lord Karan Bilimoria
* National Council of Indian Culture
* Dr. Thomas Abraham
* Lord Karan Bilimori
* Krishnamurthy Kumar
* Bicky Chakraborty

Awardees in 2009
* Ram Labhaya Lakhina
* Sumit Arora
* Soman Baby
* Deepak Obhrai
* Tan Sri G. Vadiveloo
* Angidi Veeriah Chettiar
* Ylias Akbaraly
* P.N.C. Menon

Awardees in 2010
* Mohinder Singh Bhullar
* Yanktesh Permal Reddy
* Ryuko Hira
* Dr. Ruby Umesh Pawankar
* Suresh Kumar Virmani
* Pravin Jamnadas Gordhan
* Tholisiah Perumal Naidoo
* Rajni Kanabar
* Deepak Mittal

The Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award (PBSA) is considered as the highest honour bestowed on Indians residing abroad who achieve significantly in their respective fields.