Why in the News?
With natural diamond reserves declining and concerns over environmental damage, conflict diamonds and forced labour, India is promoting Lab-Grown Diamonds (LGDs) through the India Centre for Lab-Grown Diamond (InCent-LGD) at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras.
What is the Kimberley Process?
- Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS): An international certification system launched in 2003 to prevent conflict (blood) diamonds from entering global trade.
- Limitation: Difficult to trace the geographic origin of diamonds, enabling smuggling.
Significance of Lab-Grown Diamonds
- Lower water, land and environmental footprint.
- Fully traceable and ethically sourced.
- More affordable than mined diamonds.
- Used in jewellery, cutting tools, drilling, semiconductors and quantum computing.
India’s Initiative
- Union Budget 2023-24 announced support for indigenous LGD production.
- InCent-LGD established at IIT Madras with a ₹243 crore grant from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
- Focuses on developing indigenous diamond seeds, machinery and manufacturing technology.
[2018] Which one of the following foreign travellers elaborately discussed about diamonds and diamond mines of India?
[A] Francois Bernier
[B] Jean-Baptiste Tavernier
[C] Jean de Thevenot
[D] Abbe Barthelemy Carre