PIB Analysis : 14th June IAS SQUAD

PIB Analysis for UPSC CSE

Topics Covered

Context : The Intersessional meeting of Kimberley Process (KP) is being hosted by India from 17^th to 21^st June, 2019 in Mumbai

About Kimberley Process

In 1998, certain rebel movements in Africa (Sierra Leone, Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia) were selling, among other things, illegally obtained diamonds – known as Conflict Diamonds – to fund their wars against legitimate governments. With a view to find ways to stop trade in Conflict Diamonds, world’s diamond industry, United Nations, Governments and leading NGOs came together and in November 2002 at Interlaken, Switzerland, where the final draft of the Kimberley Process measures was ratified by more than fifty countries.
The KPCS came into effect from 1^st January, 2003 and evolved into an effective mechanism for stopping the trade in Conflict Diamonds.
Hence Kimberley Process is a joint initiative involving Government, international diamond industry and civil society to stem the flow of Conflict Diamonds. Conflict Diamonds means rough diamonds used by rebel movements or their allies to finance conflict aimed at undermining legitimate governments.

India and the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme

India is one of the founder members of Kimberley Process Certification Scheme and is the Chair of Kimberley Process for the year 2019 with Russian Federation as Vice Chair.
At present, KPCS has 55 members representing 82 countries including EU with 28 members.
The Kimberley Process is chaired, on a rotating basis, by participating countries. KP Vice-Chair is generally elected by KP Plenary each year, who becomes the Chair in the next year.
Department of Commerce is the nodal Department and Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) is designated as the KPCS Importing and Exporting Authority in India.
GJEPC is responsible for issuing KP Certificates and is also the custodian of KP Certificates received in the country.

Rough diamond trading under the KPCS

As per the Scheme, each shipment of rough diamonds being exported and imported by crossing an international border be transported in a tamper proof container and accompanied by a validated Kimberley Process Certificate.
The shipment can only be exported to a co-participant country in the KPCS. No uncertified shipments of rough diamonds are permitted to enter a participant country.

Criteria for the Awards

Bal Sahitya Puraskar : Awards relate to books first published during the five years immediately preceding the year of Award (i.e. between 1 January 2013 and 31 December 2017). However, during the initial ten years i.e. from 2010 to 2019, the award may also be given to an author based on his/her total contribution to Children Literature.
Sahitya Akademi Yuva Puraskar : The Award relates to books published by an author of the age of 35 and below as on 1^st January of the year of the award.
The Award in the form of a casket containing an engraved copper-plaque and a cheque of Rs.50,000/- will be presented to the awardees at a special function to be held at a later date.

PIB Analysis : 14th June