India will chair the Kimberley Process from 1 January 2026. After taking over from the UAE, this will be India’s third term as chair. India will also serve as vice chair from 25 December 2025, so the update is important for exams at three levels: the date, the institution and India’s role.
The Kimberley Process is a tripartite initiative involving governments, the international diamond industry and civil society. Its purpose is to prevent trade in diamonds linked to conflict. It works through 60 participants globally; the European Union and its member states are counted as one participant. For prelims, questions can therefore focus on the nature of the initiative, the number of participants and its tripartite structure.
India’s stated focus during the chairship will include governance and compliance, digital certification, traceability, transparency and consumer trust in conflict-free diamonds. For static GK, it can be linked with global trade governance, responsible use of natural resources and the role of civil society. For RAS and UPSC-style preparation, it is useful for fact-based prelims questions as well as mains discussion on ethical trade, transparency and multi-stakeholder governance. Since this update is useful for RAS, UPSC and several other exams, aspirants should read it not only as the name of an international initiative, but also as an example of India’s global economic role, compliance systems and trusted trade standards.