India to Chair Kimberley Process Certification Scheme
December 5 , 2018 2087 days 708 0
India will Chair Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) from 1st January 2019.
It was handed Chairmanship by the European Union during KPCS Plenary 2018, which was held in Brussels, Belgium.
Kimberley Process
It is a joint initiative of governments, industry and civil societies to stem flow of ‘conflict diamonds’, rough diamonds used by rebel groups to finance wars against legitimate governments.
The KPCS completely bans import and export of rough diamonds without certification.
KPCS came into effect from 1 January, 2003 through UN General Assembly (UNGA) Resolution.
India is one of the founding members of KPCS.
In India, the scheme is administered through Department of Commerce under aegis of the Union Commerce and Industry Ministry.