Union Textiles Minister Giriraj Singh on Monday, 27 July 2026, credited central government policies for a 26 per cent rise in India's gems and jewellery exports in June, saying the sector is carving out a growing identity in global markets. The minister pointed to ease of doing business reforms, production and export incentives, support for lab-grown diamonds, and export-friendly policies as the drivers behind the surge.

Context

Posting in Hindi on X, Giriraj Singh wrote that the jump in June exports is 'bharatiya udyog ki gunvatta, navachar aur badhte vaishvik vishwas ka praman hai' — proof of Indian industry's quality, innovation, and rising global trust. He added that these efforts are laying a strong foundation to make India a global Gems and Jewellery hub. The post was accompanied by an image and carried the hashtags #Exports and #RisingIndia.

Policy Backdrop

The gems and jewellery sector falls under the joint ambit of the Ministry of Textiles and the Ministry of Commerce, with the Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) serving as the apex industry body for export promotion. The central government has layered several policy measures to support the sector over recent years. The Remission of Duties and Taxes on Export Products (RoDTEP) scheme, introduced in 2021, replaced earlier incentive structures and extended support to gems and jewellery exporters by refunding embedded taxes that were previously unrecouped.

The Union Budget 2023 specifically highlighted lab-grown diamonds as a priority area, signalling intent to build domestic manufacturing capacity and capture a larger share of a fast-growing global market. Lab-grown diamonds, produced through technological processes rather than mining, carry lower costs and are increasingly preferred by international buyers, giving India — already a dominant diamond-processing nation — a potential edge in value-added exports.

Stakeholders and Impact

The sector is a significant employer of skilled and semi-skilled labour, with clusters concentrated in Surat, Mumbai, Jaipur, and Hyderabad. Diamond manufacturers and gems and jewellery exporters stand to benefit directly from the policy push, particularly smaller units that depend on export incentives to remain competitive against rivals in Belgium, the UAE, and China. A sustained rise in export volumes also supports the government's broader goal of raising India's share in global merchandise trade under the Make in India framework.

The minister's remarks signal continued political attention to the sector at the highest level. With the Ministry of Textiles taking visible ownership of gems and jewellery export performance, industry bodies are likely to push for further budget provisions and trade facilitation measures in upcoming policy cycles.

What's Next

Attention will now turn to subsequent monthly export data from the commerce ministry to confirm whether the June growth trajectory holds through the second half of 2026. Any further policy announcements — including additional RoDTEP rate revisions, dedicated credit lines for lab-grown diamond units, or new bilateral trade agreements covering gems and jewellery — will be closely watched by exporters and industry councils. If the momentum is sustained, it would strengthen the government's case for positioning India as the world's preferred sourcing destination for gems and jewellery ahead of key international trade fairs later this year.