Anoop V Mehta of Mohit Diamonds and Anup P Zaveri of Polar Star have recently been elected as Chairman and Managing Trustee respectively, of the Gemmological Institute of India (GII), the organization that was a pioneer of gemmological education and testing within the country.

A number of other community members have also joined the Board of Trustees. These include Arvind C Parikh of Crystal Diamond and Shripal Desai as Trustees and former GII Chairman Bakul R Mehta of Dimpex Mfg Co as a co-opted member.

Veteran of the gem and jewellery trade, Kirtilal K Doshi of Shrenuj & Co is Chairman Emeritus of the organization.

GII was set up in 1971 and was the first modern Indian body to conduct educational courses, and later provide laboratory services, for the gem and jewellery trade. In 2006 it became a project of The Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council, co-sponsored by Bharat Diamond Bourse, Diamond Exporters’ Association Ltd, Gem & Jewellery Exporters’ Association and Mumbai Diamond Merchants’ Association.