Kimberley Process 2026:
India has assumed the chair of the Kimberley Process (KP) for 2026, placing it at the forefront of global diamond governance. Coming at a crucial time for the diamond industry, the role positions India as a key Global South voice and a central hub in the diamond value chain to drive meaningful reforms.
- The Kimberley Process (KP) is an international forum initiated in 2000 by Southern African countries, to regulate the trade in rough diamonds.
- It aims to prevent the flow of conflict diamonds while helping to protect legitimate trade in rough diamonds.
- Conflict diamonds are rough diamonds used by rebel groups or their allies to finance armed conflicts aimed at undermining legitimate governments.
- KP is not a formal international organisation or a legally binding treaty.
- It has no permanent office or staff and functions on burden-sharing contributions from participating countries, with support from industry and civil society.
- Its rules are implemented through national laws, not international legal obligations.
- Today, the KP has 60 participants representing 86 countries. The KP members account for approximately 99.8% of global rough diamond production.
- Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) launched in 2003, the KPCS outlines the rules that govern the trade in rough diamonds.
- The KPCS has developed a set of minimum requirements that each participant must meet.
- The KPCS requires that every consignment of rough diamonds crossing an international border be accompanied by a tamper-resistant KP certificate.
- Trade in rough diamonds is permitted only between certified KP members who adhere to the scheme’s minimum requirements.
- Participant countries are legally obliged to share timely and accurate statistical data regarding their diamond production and trade to ensure transparency.
- India is one of the founding members of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS).
- Enforcement is carried out individually by participant countries to ensure that only legitimate, “conflict-free” diamonds enter the supply chain.
