India to assume Kimberley Process chair from Jan 1, signal reforms in global diamond governance

New Delhi, December 26: India has been selected to assume the chairpersonship of the Kimberley Process (KP) from January 1, 2026, underscoring the country’s growing leadership in promoting integrity, transparency and responsible trade in the global diamond sector.

The decision was taken at the Kimberley Process Plenary, which brings together governments, the international diamond industry and civil society to prevent the trade in “conflict diamonds”—rough diamonds used by rebel groups to finance conflicts against legitimate governments. India will take over as Vice Chair on December 25, 2025, before formally assuming the chair in the new year. This will be the third time India has been entrusted with leading the Kimberley Process.

Welcoming the development, Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal said India’s selection reflects global confidence in the Modi government’s commitment to transparency, rule-based trade and ethical sourcing practices.

The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS), established pursuant to a United Nations resolution, came into force on January 1, 2003. Over the years, it has emerged as the most comprehensive international mechanism governing the rough diamond trade. The KP currently has 60 participants, with the European Union and its member states counted as a single participant. Together, they account for over 99 per cent of global rough diamond trade.

As one of the world’s leading centres for diamond cutting, polishing and trade, India’s chairpersonship comes at a time of evolving geopolitics and heightened global focus on sustainability and responsible sourcing. During its tenure, India is expected to prioritise strengthening governance and compliance within the Kimberley Process, advancing digital certification and traceability systems, improving data-driven monitoring, and enhancing consumer confidence in conflict-free diamonds.

Officials said that as Vice Chair in 2025 and Chair in 2026, India will work closely with all participants and observers to reinforce confidence in the Kimberley Process, ensure effective implementation of its rules, and make the initiative more inclusive and credible in line with contemporary global expectations.

India’s upcoming leadership role is seen as an opportunity to further modernise the Kimberley Process while reaffirming its core objective of eliminating conflict diamonds from the international supply chain.