The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) opened a new education center in Mumbai (Bombay), India, in July. The Institute selected Deepak Bagai, who holds a master’s degree in geology and has completed GIA training in diamonds and diamond grading, as director of GIA India.

Located on the ninth floor at Maker Chambers VI, Nariman Point, in Mumbai’s financial district, the new education center has two classrooms, each with a 23-student capacity, within its 2,509-sq-ft floor plan. Five-day Diamond Grading Extension classes started in August. The seven-week Graduate Diamonds diploma program commenced in September. All classes at GIA India will be taught in English.

GIA has created the Endowment Fund for Education in India, a special campaign designed to support future programs and education initiatives in the country. Two internationally known Indian firms, the Dimexon-Eurostar group of companies and Rosy Blue N.V., each have donated $1 million to the fund and have been named Founding Benefactors of GIA India. GIA India may be contacted by e-mail at giaindiainfo@gia.edu, or on the Web at www.giaindia.ac.in .