International relations
Kimberley Process Certification Scheme
GS2 International organisations and groupingsGS3 EconomyPrelims and Mains
- Why in news
- India, as KP Chair 2026, is hosting the Kimberley Process Intersessional Meeting in Mumbai from May 11 to 14, 2026 (reported May 12, 2026).
- What it is
- The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme is a tripartite body of governments, industry and civil society. It aims to keep conflict diamonds out of the legitimate rough diamond trade through a certification system. It decides by consensus and has a rotating annual chair.
- Legal origin
- The scheme was set up under UN General Assembly Resolution 55/56 of 2000.
- Structure
- It brings together governments, industry and civil society, and works by consensus.
- Industry participant
- The World Diamond Council represents industry in the process.
- Next step
- The KP Plenary is due in New Delhi later in 2026.
- Not a UN body
- The KP is not a formal international organisation; it has no permanent secretariat and is run by a rotating chair.
- Membership
- It has 60 Participants representing 86 countries; the EU and its Member States count as one bloc.
- Stakeholders
- Participants, Observers, the World Diamond Council (industry) and the Civil Society Coalition take part in the meetings.
- Nature
- The KP is not a formal international organisation. It has no permanent secretariat and the chair rotates annually.
- Launch
- The scheme started operating in 2003.
Don’t confuse with Kimberley Process vs Financial Action Task Force: The KP certifies rough diamonds to block conflict diamonds. The FATF sets standards against money laundering and terror financing.
Don’t confuse with Intersessional vs Plenary: The intersessional is a mid-year working meeting. The plenary is the annual decision-making meeting.
Don’t confuse with KP vs UN Security Council sanctions: The KP is a certification scheme backed by a UNGA resolution. UNSC sanctions on conflict diamonds from specific countries are separate measures.
International bodies and relations: the largest group of news questions in Prelims (61 since 2013), often about background, members and location. In Mains, 27 news-triggered questions, mostly on India's interests.
Why it matters
- Gives India, a leading diamond cutting and polishing centre, a say in setting global rules on responsible sourcing.
- Protects the credibility of the natural diamond trade and the livelihoods tied to it.
- Strengthens the legitimacy of the diamond trade, protects livelihoods in producing countries and supports peace.
- Gives India, a leading diamond cutting and polishing centre, a leadership role in global trade governance.
Problems
- Consensus-based decisions can be slow and can stall reform.
- The scheme's definition of conflict diamonds is narrow and does not cover wider human rights or environmental concerns.
- The definition of conflict diamonds is narrow, covering only rebel-linked diamonds and not wider human rights abuses.
- Consensus-based decisions and weak monitoring slow reform and enforcement.
Way forward
- Strengthen monitoring, statistics and transparency, as the working groups discussed.
- Improve outreach so that consumers see the scheme's development outcomes.
- Strengthen monitoring, compliance and peer review of Participants.
- Widen the scope to cover human rights and environmental concerns through consensus reform.
Put in your answer
India's 3Cs theme: India's 2026 chairship focuses on credibility, compliance and consumer confidence in natural diamonds.
UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.
Prelims practice · Statements
Ours, not from a UPSC paper
Consider the following statements:
- 1.The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme was established pursuant to a resolution of the UN Security Council.
- 2.The European Union and its Member States participate in the Kimberley Process as a single bloc.
- 3.The Kimberley Process has a permanent secretariat, and its chair is elected for a fixed multi-year term.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
True or false?
1 of 8
Statements the way Prelims prints them. Say first, then see the fact.
1.The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme was established pursuant to a UN General Assembly resolution.
True. It rests on UNGA Resolution 55/56 (2000).
2.The Kimberley Process was established by a resolution of the UN Security Council.
False. It was backed by a UN General Assembly resolution, 55/56.
3.The European Union and its Member States participate in the Kimberley Process as a single bloc.
True. The EU and its Member States count as one Participant.
4.Each EU Member State is a separate Participant in the Kimberley Process.
False. The EU and its Member States participate as a single bloc.
5.India assumed the Chair of the Kimberley Process on 1 January 2026.
True. India's chairship began on 1 January 2026.
6.The Kimberley Process aims to prevent conflict diamonds from entering the legitimate diamond trade.
True. This is its core aim.
7.The Kimberley Process has a permanent secretariat and a permanent head elected for a fixed multi-year term.
False. It has no permanent secretariat; the chair rotates annually among Participants.
8.The Kimberley Process covers trade in rough diamonds through a certification system.
True. It certifies shipments of rough diamonds.
Written by us from the release, not by UPSC; checked by a second model.
Worth revising until Prelims 2027: most news questions come within two years of the event.