Why in news?
India has been selected to chair the Kimberley Process (KP) starting January 1, 2026, marking its third time leading the initiative aimed at curbing conflict diamond trade. This follows a KP Plenary decision in November 2025, with India assuming the vice-chair role from December 25, 2025. The move underscores India's prominence in global diamond trade governance amid calls for reforms.​
About Kimberley Process
- Origin: Established under UN General Assembly Resolution 55/56 (2000) after concerns that diamond revenues were fueling conflicts in Africa.
- Launch: The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) came into effect on 1 January 2003.
- Goal: To stop conflict diamonds from entering the mainstream diamond market.
- Structure: A tripartite initiative involving:
- Governments
- International diamond industry
- Civil society organizations
Key Features
- Certification: Every shipment of rough diamonds must be accompanied by a Kimberley Process certificate, guaranteeing they are conflict-free.
- Membership: Currently, 60 participants (representing 85 countries) account for over 99% of global rough diamond trade.
- Governance: The Vice-Chair of KP automatically becomes Chair the following year.
India's Leadership Role
- India, a founding participant, previously chaired in 2008 and 2019.
- Priorities include boosting consumer confidence in conflict-free diamonds, advancing digital traceability, and enhancing supply chain transparency via data-driven compliance.
- Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal highlighted India's credibility in promoting trade integrity. This aligns with geopolitical shifts, including G7 sanctions on Russian diamonds post-Ukraine invasion.​
Challenges & Evolving Scope
- Expanding definition of conflict diamonds: There are ongoing debates to include human rights abuses, forced labour, systemic violence, and environmental damage.
- Geopolitical issues: Recent sanctions on Russian-mined diamonds (about 30% of global supply) have tested KP’s effectiveness.
- Digital certification: Efforts are underway to modernize compliance and traceability.
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