IIT Madras gets INR 242 crore for research on lab-grown diamonds

It is proposed to establish an India Centre for Lab grown Diamond (InCent-LGD) at IIT Madras with the estimated cost of INR 242.96 crore over five years. 

In the Union Budget 2023-24, a five-year research grant for the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras was announced to encourage the indigenous production of lab-grown diamonds (LGD) machinery, seeds and recipe. 

It is proposed to establish an India Centre for Lab grown Diamond (InCent-LGD) at IIT Madras with the estimated cost of INR 242.96 crore over five years. Project appraisal committee under the chair of commerce secretary Sunil Barthwal has recommended the proposal, which has been approved by Piyush Goyal, Minister for Commerce and Industry, Textiles, Food and Public Distribution and Consumer Affairs. Budget support will be provided during the course of next five years. 

The aim of the project is to provide, in mission mode, technical assistance to the industries, and entrepreneurs in the country, to promote indigenous manufacturing of both chemical vapour deposition (CVD) and high pressure and high temperature (HPHT) systems along with the recipes for expanding the Lab Grown Diamond (LGD) business at the upstream end. Research efforts would make the technology available for start ups at affordable cost, increase employment opportunities, increase exports of LGD thus play a significant role in fuelling India’s economic growth. 

Besides the jewellery industry, lab-grown diamonds are used in computer chips, satellites, 5G networks as they can be used in extreme environments due to their potential to operate at higher speeds while using less power than silicon-based chips. LGD has vast application in field of defence, optics, jewellery, thermal and medical industry. 

Lab grown diamonds are produced through two technologies, namely high-pressure high temperature (HPHT) and chemical vapour deposition (CVD). India is one of the leading producers of lab grown diamonds using CVD technology. As per industry estimates, India’s share in global trade in the financial year 2021-22 was 25.8. However, we have to depend on other countries for the supply of critical machinery components and ‘seeds’ — which are the raw material for producing synthetic diamonds. 

Read more: 

• Budget 2023: IIT Madras to receive INR 242 cr grant for undertaking research on lab grown diamonds
• Budget 2023 delivers boost for lab-grown diamonds, but how are they different from natural diamonds?