The Hon'ble Prime Minister of India had flagged off the maiden tour of the Pravasi Bharatiya Express on January 9, 2025 while inaugurating the 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas at Bhubaneswar in Odisha. Over 750 Persons of Indian Origin from all across the globe had applied for the 150 available seats in the train. The tour involved visit to 17 places of touristic and religious interests all across India and was curated by M/s IRCTC Limited in a state of the art train specially and exclusively designed for the same.
2. Following a very positive and encouraging feedback from the participating PIOs, the Ministry of External Affairs of India is conducting the 2nd edition of the Pravasi Bharatiya Express in the similar format of hiring a special state of the art train from M/s IRCTC Limited in which 150 selected PIOs would travel across 17 destinations of touristic and religious importance across India for a period of 3 weeks from October 21 to November 8, 2025.
3. Unlike the first edition of the Pravasi Bharatiya Express, the 2nd edition of the Pravasi Bharatiya Express would be undertaken on a self-financing basis by the PIOs wishing to avail the services. Ministry of External Affairs of India has negotiated a particularly attractive rate of INR 1,92,345 + GST per person with IRCTC for the aforesaid tour. The participants would also have to purchase their own return air tickets up to Delhi for availing this offer. The last date for application by PIOs for the 2nd Pravasi Bharatiya Express is May 20, 2025.
