IIT Madras starts 90-hour lab-grown diamond certificate with 23 in first batch
By TUF News Desk · Published 4 November 2026 · 3 min read
Fact-checked against 2+ independent sources · Editorial policy
Twenty-three people have joined the first batch of a new certificate course in lab-grown diamond technology from the Indian Institute of Technology Madras and the Indian Institute of Gems and Jewellery (IIJG). Classes began on October 21, 2026, two days after a virtual inauguration on October 19.
The programme is called the Global Certificate in Lab Grown Diamond Technology. It is run by IIJG together with the India Centre for Lab Grown Diamonds (InCent LGD) at IIT Madras, and it is backed by the Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC), which is sponsored by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
How the 90 hours are split
The course runs for 90 hours in total. IIJG delivers 30 hours through live online sessions. InCent LGD at IIT Madras teaches 48 hours. The remaining 12 hours are a campus immersion at the IIT Madras lab-grown diamond laboratory, where participants get time inside a working facility rather than only online lectures.
That mix matters because lab-grown diamond work is hands-on by nature. Knowing how a stone is graded on paper is one thing. Watching growth, processing and testing equipment at close quarters is another, and the immersion block is built for that gap.
The syllabus covers the two main production routes, high-pressure high-temperature (HPHT) and chemical vapour deposition (CVD), along with post-processing, grading and identification. It also looks at where lab-grown diamonds are used, in jewellery and in industrial settings such as electronics, where the material’s hardness and heat tolerance count for more than sparkle.
Why this course exists now
The certificate did not appear out of nowhere. IIJG and InCent LGD signed a letter of intent in February 2026 to build joint certification and diploma programmes in lab-grown diamond technology, and this certificate is the first to reach students.
There is a larger policy reason behind it too. InCent LGD was set up at IIT Madras in February 2023, and the Union Budget that year gave the centre ₹242 crore to develop indigenous technology for diamond growth, including machinery, seeds and process recipes. India still imports large volumes of rough lab-grown diamonds, with reported imports of $594 million from China and Hong Kong in 2025-26. A domestic workforce trained in growth and grading is part of closing that gap.
For students and working professionals eyeing the gems and jewellery sector, the course sits in an unusual spot. It is short, it carries an IIT Madras association, and it is aimed at a sector that is hiring for technical roles rather than only sales and design. The next batch is scheduled for early January 2027, which gives anyone interested a clear window to watch for admission details.
Choosing a short certificate still deserves the same care as picking a degree. Our guide to how to choose a university in India sets out how to weigh faculty, facilities and industry links before signing up, and the IIT Madras profile page has more on the institute itself.
Further announcements from the institute will appear on the official IIT Madras website.
Frequently asked questions
What is the IIT Madras lab-grown diamond certificate?
It is a 90-hour Global Certificate in Lab Grown Diamond Technology run jointly by the Indian Institute of Gems and Jewellery and the India Centre for Lab Grown Diamonds at IIT Madras, covering how lab-grown diamonds are made, graded and used.
How is the 90-hour programme structured?
It has 30 hours of live online sessions by IIJG, 48 hours of teaching by InCent LGD at IIT Madras, and 12 hours of campus immersion at the IIT Madras lab-grown diamond laboratory.
When does the next batch start?
The next batch is scheduled for early January 2027. The first batch of 23 participants began classes on October 21, 2026.
Frequently asked questions
What is the IIT Madras lab-grown diamond certificate?
It is a 90-hour Global Certificate in Lab Grown Diamond Technology run jointly by the Indian Institute of Gems and Jewellery and the India Centre for Lab Grown Diamonds at IIT Madras, covering how lab-grown diamonds are made, graded and used.
How is the 90-hour programme structured?
It has 30 hours of live online sessions by IIJG, 48 hours of teaching by InCent LGD at IIT Madras, and 12 hours of campus immersion at the IIT Madras lab-grown diamond laboratory.
When does the next batch start?
The next batch is scheduled for early January 2027. The first batch of 23 participants began classes on October 21, 2026.
Sources: Higher Education Plus, Dailyhunt, LGD Times