Shrikant Zaveri

Chairman 2005-2006

It has been both an honour and a privilege to serve as the first Chairperson of GJC. From witnessing its inception to seeing it evolve into a true powerhouse, GJC has become the guiding force for the gem and jewellery trade. I take great pride in the fact that GJC has consistently stood as the sole organisation representing the entire domestic industry, acting as a vital bridge between the trade and the government. I wholeheartedly urge every stakeholder to join GJC—not just as members, but as active contributors—so that together we can strengthen unity and drive collective progress.

Ashok Minawala

Chairman 2007-2008

Back in 2005, when the jewellery sector was confronted with the challenge of excise duty, the government declined permission for GJEPC to intervene in domestic matters. When we approached the government, we were told that the industry must be represented by a national body dedicated to domestic trade. And so, in March 2005, GJC was born.

Even before its formal establishment, we had successfully countered excise and gained recognition from the government. This organization was built on the thoughts and desires of hundreds of jewellers across the country who loved their industry and respected their artisans.

Bachraj Bamalwa

Chairman 2011-2012

As GJC marks 20 glorious years, I take immense pride in celebrating this milestone with our members and stakeholders. From humble beginnings to becoming the nation’s foremost trade body, GJC has consistently championed the principles of Protecting, Promoting and Progressing for the entire gem and jewellery fraternity. Over the years, it has safeguarded the interests of the industry, nurtured entrepreneurship, and created platforms for growth and unity. This success is the result of the dedication of our leaders, members and partners who believed in a collective vision. Together, we now look ahead to an even brighter future for our industry.

Dr. Vinod Hayagriv

Chairman 2009-2010

During my tenure, I recognized the need to connect meaningfully with the larger jewellery fraternity. I initiated a nationwide membership drive, travelling across 30 cities to meet jewellers from diverse backgrounds. This initiative was more than just about adding members—it was an opportunity to dispel negativity, especially among the next generation, and to instill optimism, hope, and pride in the gems and jewellery (GJ) industry.

Haresh Soni

Chairman 2013-2014

From being a founding member to serving as Chairman, my journey with GJC has been truly exciting, offering me the privilege to selflessly serve our industry.

During my tenure, I had the honor of launching Labham—a seminar on best business practices encompassing finance, banking, taxation, compliance, and more. It was not just a new initiative but a high-impact program that delivered tangible benefits to the trade.With over 250 episode being conducted across the country, Labham continues to receive tremendous response from trade and industry.

Nitin Khandelwal

Chairman 2017-2018

During my tenure, a defining milestone was the transition from GJF to GJC, which broadened the Council’s mandate and strengthened its representation of the gems and jewellery sector. This period also saw the introduction of Manthan and the launch of the highly successful PMI, my brainchild, which I had the honour of convening for nine consecutive years.

G V Sreedhar

Chairman 2015-2016

I am proud to share that during my tenure, we successfully addressed several major challenges — from resolving the PAN Card issue to tackling Central Excise concerns, and taking the initiative for a special GST category for the Gems & Jewellery sector. 

N. Anantha Padmanabhan

Chairman 2019-2020

It was an honour to serve as Chairman of GJC during 2019–20, a period that shaped the Council and the industry. We announced the India Gem & Jewellery Show (GJS), GJC’s first mega B2B exhibition, and when COVID-19 disrupted plans, we quickly pivoted to launch GJS Virtual, ensuring continuity for trade networking. GJC also extended crucial CSR support to over 10,000 artisans and karigars, while strongly representing industry issues with the Government on import duty, hallmarking, and regulatory concerns.

Ashish Pethe

Chairman 2021-2022

During my tenure as Chairman, I had the opportunity to address several key industry issues, including Hallmarking and PMLA. In June 2021, when mandatory hallmarking for gold jewellery was introduced, I had the privilege of representing the industry on the advisory committee set up by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs.

I also consider myself fortunate that the first-ever edition of the Gem and Jewellery Show (GJS) – Hamara Apna Show – was launched during my chairmanship of GJC, at a time when the industry was navigating the challenging post-pandemic phase.

Saiyam Mehra 

Chairman 2023-2024

As an Immediate Past Chairman of GJC, I’ve seen the tangible impact this council has on the grassroots of our industry. Be it navigating complex regulatory challenges, defending trade interests during turbulent times, or providing clarity during GST and hallmarking transitions GJC has stood firm for every jeweller across India. Our initiatives have created powerful platforms for networking, learning, and business growth. If you truly wish to protect, uplift, and future-proof your business, there is no better step than becoming a member of GJC- a body run by the industry, for the industry.

Rajesh Rokde  

Chairman 2025-2026

GJC has, over the years, built a strong foundation by establishing hallmarking standards, facilitating GST clarity, promoting quality and ethical trade, and supporting skill development and legal frameworks for the industry.

Looking ahead, we are focused on streamlining the movement of goods with clear Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), expanding Vigilance Committees nationwide, and strengthening our Women’s Wing to enhance leadership and representation. With these initiatives, GJC aims to drive greater transparency, accountability, and growth-adding lasting value to the gem and jewellery sector.

Avinash Gupta 

Vice Chairman 2025-2026

At GJC, we believe in shaping the future of the gem and jewellery industry by being proactive, inclusive, and visionary. As Vice Chairman, I’ve witnessed how our council continuously works to bridge gaps across segments from karigars to retailers ensuring every voice is heard and every need addressed. With focused initiatives on digital transformation, retail empowerment, and youth engagement, we are making the industry future-ready. I urge every stakeholder in the jewellery ecosystem to become a part of GJC not just as members, but as active contributors to an industry that thrives on unity and collective progress.

Excise Duty rollback in 2005
GJC was founded with a clear vision to drive the industry’s growth across India. It led multi-city conferences and represented industry concerns to the Union Finance Minister, resulting in the successful rollback of the excise duty in 2005.

Excise Duty rollback in 2012
In 2012, Excise Duty was again implemented on the Gems & Jewellery Industry. GJC took this burning issue on top priority and represented it to the Government, resulting in rollback of Excise Duty.

Excise Duty in 2016.
In the Union Budget of 2016, excise duty was imposed on the gems and jewellery sector. GJC played a vital role in alleviating fears of an “Excise Raj” and worked closely with the government to promote ease of doing business. As a result, the government issued several circulars and notifications, accepting most of the trade’s demands ultimately keeping nearly 85% of the industry outside the scope of excise duty.

Pivotal role in abolishing 80:20 scheme
GJC played a pivotal role in the abolition of the 80:20 Gold Scheme, which was severely hampering the growth of the Gems & Jewellery industry. GJC organised multiple meetings with key stakeholders from the industry and the government to represent this concern.

Representing Concerns on Hallmarking
GJC has consistently represented the industry’s stance on hallmarking before the Ministry of Consumer Affairs and the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). Through regional meetings and ongoing dialogue, it continues to work closely with both bodies on policy formulation.

Pro-Active approach in Pre-Budget Recommendations
As an apex body of the Gems and Jewellery Industry, to safeguard the industry and its affiliates, GJC has been giving great importance to industry needs and demands. Since its inception it has been preparing pre-Budget recommendations every year, which is sent to various Ministries.

Protect the G&J Industry Against the Ambit of “Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA)”:
Over the years, GJC has been a steadfast advocate for the Gems and Jewellery industry under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Through its proactive representation, GJC has effectively safeguarded the industry by ensuring all its members are represented under a designated Nodal Officer, streamlining compliance and strengthening adherence to PMLA regulations.

CSR Activities
GJC also undertakes various CSR activities on behalf of the industry during natural calamities or crucial periods to help society such as the Nepal flood relief, Mumbai bomb blast victim fund, Kerala flood relief fund, COVID-19 relief fund, and free vaccination drives for karigars, etc.

Educating the Industry through Seminars and Meets
One of the prime objectives of GJC is to assist the industry in becoming more organised. To achieve this, GJC, since its inception, has held many seminars and meets on important subjects such as GST, Hallmarking, PMLA, Excise, Import Duty, Taxation, Compliance, etc., to protect the interests of the industry and share knowledge with the fraternity.

GST @3% for Gems and Jewellery Industry
GJC in a very short span, met Finance Minister, Revenue Secretary, members of GST council and more than 25 state Finance Ministers, and represented the concerns of higher GST which was proposed at 7% initially by the GST council. Through rigorous approach and discussion from GJC, Government implemented 3% GST for the Gems & Jewellery Industry. A separate slab of GST is only witnessed in the Jewellery Industry.

India Gem & Jewellery Show(GJS) – Humara Apna Show: The country’s most prestigious B2B jewellery exhibition. Explore the latest trends, engage with industry leaders, and unlock new business opportunities in an environment of unmatched scale and sophistication. Hosted in Mumbai,  at GJS  witness business, and excellence that defines the jewellery industry.

GJS Nite:GJS Nite is a prestigious evening event organized as part of the India Gem and Jewellery Show (GJS), a premier platform in the jewellery industry. This night is designed to bring together industry leaders, exhibitors, and visitors for a memorable evening filled with entertainment, networking, and celebration.

Labham is an educational programme on Best Business Practices and Compliance tailor made for the jewellers. Labham helps define business strategies in numerous ways as it provides an overview of Finance, Banking, Accounting, Direct/ Indirect Taxation, Regulatory Compliance, Operations Management, Standardization, Certification, etc. 4. National Jewellery Awards (NJA) 

National Jewellery Awards: NJA is one of country’s most prestigious award that honors the work of designers and manufacturers in various categories such as Best Jewellery Designs, Best Diamond & Precious Metal Jewellery, including an award for the Best Retail Ambience. The NJA aims to drive excellence across various segments of the industry and reward passion and innovation, therefore setting new benchmarks each year.

Manthan : Manthan is a conclave organised by GJC to share and gain business knowledge and help the industry go from “good to great”. An annual initiative for knowledge sharing, held over a span of 2 days is a flagship event promoting a common platform to share expertise & knowledge. Leading and notable luminaries share their views on varied topics related to the gem and jewellery industry. 

Abhushanam A B2B initiative of GJC, Abhushanam is a networking meet organized for jewellers with the objective of encouraging people from the jewellery trade to interact and forge strong business relationships. The event brings together prominent manufacturers and retailers at regional levels, thereby encouraging face-to-face interactions to promote business across the various regions and boosting businesses.

 GJC NextGen: is formed keeping in view the need to bring together the next generation of jewellers, so that they can be groomed and nurtured to become better professionals, ethical businessmen and true leaders in jewellery industry. GJC Next Generation will ensure that our leaders of tomorrow will be well informed, knowledgeable and shall have an open mind and strong business values..