National News
GJC’s first Labham Seminar in Ahilyanagar concludes successfully
The All India Gem & Jewellery Domestic Council (GJC) successfully organized its flagship knowledge-sharing event this week, the Labham Seminar, at Hotel Raj Palace in Ahilyanagar. This was the first-ever Labham Seminar held in Ahilyanagar, conducted in collaboration with the Gold Jewellers Council – Ahilyanagar, a prestigious association dedicated to the growth and prosperity of the local jewellery trade.
This 181st edition of the Labham Seminar was conducted under the DD-WGC Labham series and witnessed the participation of over 100 jewellers. The seminar aimed to strengthen awareness of business knowledge, legal compliance, and ethical trade practices. Key speakers at the event included GJC Chairman Rajesh Rokde, Vice Chairman Avinash Gupta, Vardhaman Kothari, former Chairman Nitin Khandelwal, and legal advisor Bhavin Mehta, who addressed crucial topics such as legal guidelines, compliance policies, and business growth strategies.
During the seminar, insights were also shared about the upcoming India Gem & Jewellery Show (GJS) and GJS Jewellers Meet. The prestigious B2B jewellery trade show is set to take place from 4th to 7th April 2025 at the Jio World Convention Centre, Mumbai. This edition will feature 400+ exhibitors and 750+ booths, offering a grand platform for the jewellery industry to explore an extensive range of products, including gold, couture and real diamond-studded jewellery, silver, gemstones, loose diamonds, pearls, lab-grown diamonds, and allied services.
A key highlight of this year’s event is the Silver Pavilion, dedicated to meeting the growing demand for silver jewellery and artifacts. Scheduled 26 days before Akshaya Tritiya and just ahead of the upcoming wedding season, this show presents a golden opportunity for retailers and buyers to stock up their inventory. With 20,000+ visitors and 2,000 hosted buyers expected, GJS is set to become a leading sourcing platform for India’s jewellery traders.
The GJS Jewellers Meet serves as an exclusive networking platform, bringing together key jewellers, retailers, and manufacturers from the industry. This meet fosters business discussions, collaborations, and trade opportunities, allowing stakeholders to establish valuable connections and gain insights into the latest market trends.

On this occasion, GJC Chairman Rajesh Rokde stated:”The Labham Seminar has always been a vital platform for educating jewellers about compliance and ethical trade practices. We are delighted to host this seminar for the first time in Ahilyanagar and are thrilled by the enthusiastic response from the local jewellery community. GJC remains committed to driving industry growth, education, and business excellence. Through GJS and GJS Jewellers Meet, we are providing jewellers with an unparalleled platform to connect, collaborate, and unlock new business opportunities.”
With this grand success, the Labham Seminar in Ahilyanagar has laid a strong foundation for future knowledge-sharing programs. The Gold Jewellers Council – Ahilyanagar and GJC remain dedicated to their mission of empowering jewellers through initiatives like Labham, ensuring continued progress and excellence in the industry.
National News
GJEPC Presents Pre-Budget Recommendations to Boost Exports and Ease of Doing Business
The Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) submitted its set of pre-budget proposals to the Government of India in New Delhi on 7th November, aimed at enhancing the ease of doing business and driving export growth.
The delegation, led by Kirit Bhansali, Chairman, GJEPC, along with Anoop Mehta, Convener, Diamond Panel; K. Srinivasan, Convener, Gold Panel; and Sabyasachi Ray, Executive Director, GJEPC, presented key recommendations addressing critical industry needs.
Among the major proposals were a liberalised taxation framework for rough diamond trading in Special Notified Zones—aligned with international hubs such as Israel, Dubai, and Belgium—and an extension of customs duty exemption on lab-grown diamond seeds beyond March 2026, to support India’s rapidly expanding LGD sector.
GJEPC also sought retrospective applicability of the ±0.01 mm height variance rule (2014–2025) for re-imported diamonds sent for certification and grading, ad-valorem duty drawbacks for gold and silver, and the inclusion of platinum jewellery and gold articles in the drawback scheme.
To attract foreign tourists, the Council recommended a comprehensive tax refund mechanism covering GST, Basic Customs Duty, and Agriculture Infrastructure and Development Cess (AIDC), supported by digital integration and refund counters at airports.
Further proposals included greater flexibility for SEZs—allowing reverse job work, domestic sales on duty payment, and “Bill to, Ship to” procurement—to streamline logistics.
GJEPC also urged the reduction of import duty on cut and polished diamonds and coloured gemstones from 5% to 2.5%, abolition of duty on rough gemstones, and enhancement of personal carriage limits for overseas exhibitions and business tours.
Highlighting industry challenges, the Council appealed for relief from transfer pricing penalties under Section 271(6), citing the industry’s thin profit margins and established judicial precedents supporting its compliance approach.
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